Cruise blog

Over May and June it is one of the best times of years to see the Seals at Seal Rocks, with the pup seals being about 7 months in age, they are brave , cheeky, curious and full of life. As you approach the rocks you are welcomed by these cheeky pups as they race the boat along the rocks, then they surround the boat, and as you make eye contact with these cute yet wild mammals, you understand that this is a very special place, and feel priviliged to be able to be part of it all.   Seal Rocks is by fact Australia’s largest breeding colony of fur Seals and to see a colony larger than this you need to visit Antartica. Due to the location of Seal Rocks, it requires strong local knowledge, and reliable custom built boats to operate safely around the rocks, for the passengers and seals alike, a job that wildlife coast cruises has been doing for 16 years, making over 4000 approaches in close around the rocks. We welcome you to join us for a truely in the wild experience with the facsinating and cheeky Australian Fur Seals.

Another day another dollar, not the logic I ever associate with the boat. We left from Urangan and with flat seas and a slightly overcast sky we headed towards Platypus Bay. We ended up cruising for quite a while and we reminded customers that patience is the key to happy whale watching. We came across a school of dolphins the mothers (2) training their little calves how to feed. The dolphins dorsals swiftly breaking the surface before before becoming enveloped by the sea again. We cruised on and came upon our first pod a brief encounter but with still calm water the sub-adults, one on its side, swam along the side and around the bow before heading off in a North direction. After stumbling upon a few more pods we were blessed with a single subby, the whale thriving for attention, spyhopping so close to the boat that customers were finger tips away. The singleton emphasizing their curious nature. The subby remained around the boat for a while before taking a deep dive and cruising in a specific direction, after a few blinks 1…2……3 blows! The 3 whales playing and socializing under the surface displaying themselves to each other, jolly customers and crew observing with a cheerful gaze.  Then with a change of the wind the whales changed their point of focus and three whales 1 large female, 1 small male and another and then the spyhopping chaois began. Never have I seen so many spyhops in one encounter, the whales in serious curiousity mode, mouth so far out of the water that the calming tide barely covered a pecfin, eyes wide open and taking all the detail it could. The 3 covered all areas of the boat spyhopping every time. Crew mesmirized, customers overwhelmed after an hour we had to leave, the whales  not wanting us to leave  followed as we slowly backed away appearing spyhopping at our side and luring us in for a longer encounter. We happily obliged and remained till we began running very very late! We tried to depart again thanking the whales for their romantic interaction. Having backed away the whales maintained their spyhopping bonanza. Crew and customers watching for every second of the final glimse.

Today began like most other days, clear blue sky, slight cool southern wind, we cruised along the beautiful Fraiser coast with flat luminous water lapping on the sandy beach. We headed out on our daily whale watch adventure….no sooner than we began to head out wide the wind picked up the shining sun decieving  us with its radiant glow……crew and customers wrapped up from the cold southern wind. We came across our first whale, we had a glance the whale spending most of its time submerged, we cruised on.  Another pod of whales appeared after a few km of travel, they placed an occassional glance in our direction but travel, speed and behaviour told us that they were on a mission.  So with the whales caught in their own water bubble we took a gamble and headed further up the bay…..alot further…….after a lenghtly cruise, wind picking up , waves competing for glory we saw some splashes. PLAYTIME for kids! Two young whales having a ball in the bubbly sea, one subby rolling in the swell on every turn showing its beautiful pleated belly and pec slapping to turn, the entertaining young whale continuing this activity following the swell and the current turn and slap , turn and slap. The whale beside cruising along occassionally joining in the fun. After 15+ mins tail up, Captain and crew secretly whispering breach and low and behold BREACH, straight out of the turbulent water and creating foaming splashes on its return. Customers clinging to the rails in the bellowing sea smiling at my dictation “always worth the wait!”. We had a few more breaches followed by more pec slaps the subbys curious of this big whilte vessel with people cheering their funtime. The whales  came in for a brief look turning in the sea and pec slapping till just off the bow  then rolling right up and having a glance, spyhops from a distance not satisfying curiousity! We remained till the whales calmed and the swell picked up, we headed inshore only to be met by friendly bottlenose dolphins, one with a new arrival to show off. Crew and customers running around the boat to get a look at the tiny calf. The dolphins remained for a while the glowing sun providing us with a clear view of all below the surface. Eventually we carried on home, everyday something new!

And another spectacular show from the whales yesterday. Lots of pods in the bay starting at Coongal point where our whales spotting day began to right up near West Roonies, whales all in different modes of motion and display. The pods off coongal cruising along, occasional glance in our direction the pods further up creating that unbelievable breathtaking feeling of being surrounded by Southern Humpbacked whales. We seemed to be fortunate enough to witness an array of different behaviours through our day from sleepy whales to curious whales to two young sub-adults tossing and turning, bending and flipping while attempting to following two dainty Indo- Pacific bottlenose dolphins. We then had a of 2 (unusual normally 3+) carryout behaviours that are associated with chase pods. One large whale and one smaller one, the whales being defiant of their gentle manerisms and forcefully head lunging and peducle throwing on each other. Incredible behaviours to witness and ahhhh…………………….ouch………………….uhh……………… from passengers and crew. Whales occassionally holding a seize fire and confusing us with gentle pec slaps, tail ups and a curious spy hop. When action died down we could move position the boat to see the sub-adults playfully ride some waves with the happy to entertain Indo pacific dolphins. Never a dull moment or a day the same!