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Humpback whales migrate between their feeding grounds of Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef, where they mate and breed. On their return journey they enter Hervey Bay and spend between 3 and 5 days resting or feeding their new born calves, safe from pack-shark attack and Killer Whales, before commencing the 5000 km trek down south.
The reason for this migration is simple: while their food supply (krill) is in Antarctica, Humpback whales must give birth in warm waters, as the calves are born without blubber, the layer of fat that protects them from the icy waters.
When feeding, a female whale can produce up to 600  litres of milk a day and the calf gains weight at a rate of 45 to 60 kg per day.
Whale watching in Hervey Bay is unique.
The waters are protected by Fraser Island, the largest sand Island in the world and with clear sunny days with an average temperature of 22 degrees ensure an entertaining yet educational day, as all vessels offer commentary from experienced crews. They will tell you that Humpback whales do not feed whilst on migration (5 months) , but when they do they consume up to 1,500 kg of krill each day , that they can sing without vocal cords and a recording of their song is on board Voyager II, now on a billion year journey to outer space.
But the marine park of Hervey Bay offers more. Together with the Humpbacks arrive hundreds of Bottlenose dolphins, busily leaping in all directions or riding on the bow wave of charter vessels. There are large turtles dugongs and even an occasional Minke
whale.
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