They’re at it again, those 40,000 humpback whales migrating north past Byron Bay, on the world’s longest mammal migration, a 5,000 kilometre, three-month journey to the southern Great Barrier Reef and back down to Hervey Bay where they mate, calve and chillax for a few months before heading south again.
“Byron Bay is the best land-based whale watching area for humpback whales in the world.” says Dr Wally Franklin who joins Nelly on Roadtrip, 5pm Tuesday July 5.
Wally has been studying the whales for over 30 years and is now based in Hervey Bay in Queensland which was accredited as the world’s first whale heritage site in 2019.
Migaloo, the white humpback whale, was first spotted in Byron back in 1991 and is keenly anticipated again this year. Born in 1986, the marine mammal is now 36 but hasn’t been seen for two years. Another white whale was spotted in April but was not the famous albino.
Listen to Migaloo’s song here.
The two specimens pictured were photographed by Nelly on Sunday amongst a cruisey pod of about 6.
Many tour operators can take you out there from Brunswick Heads, Byron and Ballina for an up close and personal encounter of the marine mammalian kind!
Listen to the interview with Dr. Franklin here
