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Port Stephens Whale Watching Photo Gallery
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The Humpback Whale (Megaptera Novaeangliae) has a distinctive hump behind the dorsal fin and is well known for its amazing "whale song" which is formed by a sequence of grunts, squeals, squeaks, moans and hums. Humpbacks are fascinating to watch as the acrobatic whale often leaps out of the water (breaching) and slaps its tail and flippers on the water's surface.
This humpback is going to finish a full breach with a huge explosion as it hits the water. These are awesome creatures of 30 to 40 tonnes that can put on amazing displays of power and playfulness. They can breach, as this one is, making a 180 degree turn on its tail, but sometime it is a full 360 degree turn. Half breaches and quarter breaches may not be as spectacular but are more common. Humpbacks are certainly one of the most entertaining whales to watch.
Over 5000 humpback whales pass just off Port Stephens during their migration from mid-May to the end of November. We have the chance to see them during their northern migration when they move from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to their birthing grounds in the South Pacific Ocean and again when mothers bring their new born calves close to the coast off Port Stephens on the return journey to Antarctica.
Humpback Whales are a protected species that feed and breed near coasts (hence their vulnerability in the whaling days in Australia). Numbers are increasing and every year over 5,000 Humpback Whales swim past Port Stephens on the Mid North Coast of NSW.
Imagine Cruises is an eco-tourism accredited whale watching tour operator on the East Coast of Australia located at Nelson Bay just north of Newcastle, 2 1/2 hours from Sydney. Whale watching tours are available between June to November each year and Imagine Cruises offers an eco-tourism experience of a lifetime aboard their luxury cruise yacht.
Port Stephens Whale Watching Tour Information...
Imagine Cruises' involvement with whale preservation...
Article: Hip to be Humpback - Whale Song Study...
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