Waters off the Far South Coast are known to locals as the 'humpback highway', as each year the immense mammals undertake their migration along the east coast towards the Southern Ocean.
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Operating in Twofold Bay off Eden for over three decades, family-owned business Cat Balou Cruises are gearing up for the official start to the whale watching season, which generally runs through to mid-November.
If the 2020 season is anything to go by, when the number of whales and range of behaviours witnessed exceeded all expectations, cruise-goers can expect to be blown away by the natural display out on the waters of Twofold Bay.
The Cat Balou crew were out on the water yesterday, Sunday, August 8 and headed south to Mowarry Point.
Those on board were excited to see dwarf minke whales, including a mother and calf, a couple of pods of juvenile humpbacks, the most sighted specimens in the area at this time of year, and a Bryde's whale.
Lana Wills of Cat Balou said the whales are "right on schedule".
"The season does feel a touch earlier each year - we will commence our official whale watching tours on August 20," Lana said.
Lana said there is a very high chance of seeing whales at the moment, so the next week and a half before the season officially commences is also a good time to book a cruise on Twofold Bay.
With COVID restrictions hampering a regular flow of visitors to the region for the second year in a row, Lana said many people are still a little hesitant to commit to making forward bookings.
"It will be similar to 2020, people are probably going to wait until the last minute, when they know that things are OK and they can actually come," she said.
"Like everyone, we are a little nervous. We are hoping locals will come and support all local businesses, including ourselves.
"It's another year of uncertainty for tourism, but it's definite the whales will turn up," Lana said.
COVID-19 measures will be in place for all tours, click here for more information and to book with Cat Balou Cruises.
NSW Discover vouchers can be used for Coastal Wilderness-Whale Search or Whale Watching cruises and are now valid until the end of August.
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Leah Szanto
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
