The 18th annual Eden Whale Festival might not officially open until Friday, but we thought it was only fair to check if the whales approve.
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Because without their southern migration, we wouldn’t have a festival at all.
And with a friendly wave to Cat Balou on Thursday morning, the humpback highway was declared open.
A group of 42 Cat Balou passengers sighted several pods on the early morning trip, including a few mother and calf duos.
While the old heads were a bit more reserved, the babies decided a bit of entertainment was in order.
Along with the pec slapping and spouting you’ll find in the photo gallery, the calves treated passengers to a few spectacular breaches.
Unfortunately we didn’t get these on camera, but it’s an experience that stays with you.
“We must remember that these are creatures of the wild, and we’re very privileged to be observing them in their natural habitat,” Cat Balou Cruises owner Ros Butt told passengers during her commentary.
“Everyone wants to see them flying through the air and slapping the water – they’ve got a lot of tricks to show us, but they’re not circus performers.
“When they breach, there’s no warning – it just happens, so it’s not always easy to get it on camera.”
A Pacific Whale Foundation research intern was also on board on Thursday.
The foundation, which is based in Maui, Hawaii, visits the east coast of Australia each year to observe the local population’s southern migration, with the team to return home on Saturday.
National Parks & Wildlife Service whale expert Geoff Ross told the Magnet earlier this year that around 15,000 whales are migrating south this year.
Here in the newly crowned number one whale watching destination in Australia, we’re ready to catch a glimpse.
And judging by the waving and pec slapping Cat Balou passengers witnessed on Thursday, our sea-dwelling friends are ready too.
*Cat Balou Cruises kindly invited Magnet journalist Blake Foden on Thursday morning’s cruise.