Whale Watching
The 2009 Whale Watching Season has begun!
Warrnambool is known as “Victoria’s Southern Right Whale Nursery”. New binoculars that have been installed on the Whale Viewing Platform allow for improved viewing of the whales as they cruise Lady Bay!
2009 Whale Sightings
- 29/05/09 - No whale sightings since May 14.
- 12/06/09 - No whale sightings at Logans Beach this week.
- 14/06/09 - Logans Beach Warrnambool - 8am - 2 adult Southern Right Whales east of platform heading west.
- 25/06/09 - No whale sightings since 14 June
- 02/07/09 - Logans Beach Warrnambool - Mother and Calf Southern Right Whale sighted west of platform.
- 03/07/09 - Logans Beach - Mother and Calf spent 3 hours in front of platform in the morning.
Book your accommodation now and bring the family CLICK HERE
Want to come and see the Whales on Rail Day Tour - CLICK HERE
Almost every year between June and September, female Southern Right whales return to the waters Warrnambool’s Logan’s Beach to calve.
The whales often swim within a hundred metres of the shore and can be viewed from the beach or sand dunes via a specially constructed whale viewing platform.
Why do the whales come to Warrnambool?
The magnificent Southern Right whales have been visiting Warrnambool for hundreds of years. Once, they were hunted almost to the point of extinction, but since whaling was outlawed in 1935, their numbers have been growing. In Summer, Southern Right whales live in the sub-Antarctic. In winter, they migrate to warmer waters around the southern areas of Australia. The females migrate to the “nursery” areas close to the shore to bear their calves, while the males, yearlings and young adults remain further out to sea. The females generally stay in the nursery for many weeks, allowing the calves to feed and gather strength for their journey back to the sub-Antarctic waters.
What is a whale?
Whales belong to a group of animals called cetaceans, which include dolphins and porpoises. The whale is the earth’s largest mammal. It breathes air and feeds its young on milk.
The Southern Right Whale
The Southern Right Whale can be recognised by its smooth, black back and lack of dorsal fin. On the head of each Southern Right Whale are a number of crusty outgrowths called callosities. The callosities pattern varies from whale to whale. Irregular white patches sometimes found on the whale’s belly distinguish these animals from other species.
Why are they so named?
The early whalers regarded the whale as the ‘right’ whale to hunt. They swam slowly and close to the shore, floated once harpooned, and yielded large quantities of oil and whalebone. The word “Southern” relates to southern waters.
The birth of a whale
Whales breed once every two or three years. Pregnancy lasts between nine and 10 months and the calf suckles from a milk gland beneath the mother’s body. The calf is about five to six metres long at birth, grows quickly, and may double its weight in the first week.
Are whales protected?
Whales are protected in Australian waters by Federal and State laws. Fines of up to $100,000 may be imposed for harassment.
How big do these whales grow?
The average length of the adult Southern Right Whale is 15 metres, the average weight is 50 tonnes, with maximum length of 18 metres and a weight of 96 tonnes.
How do they communicate?
Whales are social animals and display degrees of organisation, behaviour and intelligence. Whales use sound to communicate. Breaching (leaping out of the water) and tail lobbing (hitting the tail on the water) are also ways of communicating and playing.
Practical viewing tips
- Call the Visitor Information Centre beforehand to check for the most recent sightings
- Sometimes whales may not be visible at Logan’s Beach, even though they are in the region - make time for multiple visits
- Please keep off the fragile vegetation and sand dunes, and use the facilities provided
- Binoculars or a telescope can enhance viewing
- Be prepared for windy or wet conditions
- Nearest toilets - 1 km away located at Hopkins River
Information for visiting Warrnambool Whale Nursery
LOCATION OF PLATFORM: Logans Beach Road, off Hopkins Point Road, Warrnambool
OPENING HOURS : The platform is open at all times
COST : This is a free access site
BEST VIEWING TIMES : Whales visit the region June - Sept each year
Additional information regarding whales is available at the following websites:
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society aims to reduce and ultimately eliminate the continuing threats to whales and dolphins and their habitat. Visit www.wdcs.org.au
The Australian National Guidelines for Whale and Dolphin Watching 2005 outlines the standards that allow people to observe and interact with whales and dolphins in a way that ensures animals are not harmed. You can download these guidelines from www.environment.gov.au/coasts/species/cetaceans/index.html
Migration Maps - Whales are migratory animals, travelling vast distances to feed and reproduce in the world’s oceans and bays. You can view their annual migration through this animated map http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=94531
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