Byron locals are well acquainted to surf and skate lingo such as (barrel, aerial, snap, floater, wipeout, tube, tail grab, ollie and grind…but during whale season from June to November it’s ‘whale words’ like fin slap, tail slap, breach, blow, fluke up dive and round out that are the talk of the town.
Byron Bay is the whale watching capital of Australia. Every year, humpback and southern right whales migrate from their feeding ground in Antarctica along the east coast to their breeding ground in the Great Barrier Reef and back again, and the Byron Bay whale watching season is on!
With Cape Byron being the most easterly point of the Australian mainland and closest to the Pacific’s eastern current (aka whale highway No. 1!) it provides the perfect viewing platform for this annual pilgrimage. During the southern migration mothers and calves are sighted in the Bay’s pristine, sheltered environs of the state conservation marine park as they rest during their 10,000km journey south. Yes folks, this is indeed eco-tourism at its best!
Byron Bay’s best vantage points are The Lighthouse and Broken Head in the morning and early afternoon or for those in pursuit of adventure and that authentic Byron experience, you may even like to embark on a kayaking tour with Go Sea Kayaks, Cape Byron Kayaks, or get your own Kayak from Challenge Kayaks and go on a self guided tour, whereby you can photograph these majestic mammals in the wild with the awe inspiring backdrops of Cape Byron, Julian Rocks and Mt Warning.
Here are some interesting whale facts for you. Did you know humpbacks:
- have little or no sense of smell or taste;
- have very sensitive skin that is easily sunburned;
- can see clearly in the air and underwater;
- weigh approximately 45 tonnes;
- are on average 16 metres in length, and
- have a belly button.