The Sunny Coast is kicking off whale season with art shows, boat rides and more
As hordes of humpback whales make their annual pilgrimage along Queensland’s east coast, the Sunshine Coast will be welcoming its returning visitors with an Indigenous-inspired light and sound show, along with an itinerary of whale-focused experiences.
Whale watching season kicked off on Saturday June 7 with the first show of Tallo Billa on the shores of Mooloolaba beach. The installation – which takes its name and meaning from ‘humpback whale’ in the local Kabi Kabi language – is a collaboration of cultural storytelling and didgeridoo playing by Kabi Kabi artist and USC Fellow Lyndon Davis, paired with Dr Leah Barclay’s locally collected whale sounds and Dr Tricia King’s artful digital imagery.
Sunshine Coast will also be offering many other opportunities to see the migrating whale up close this winter and spring.
Board Sunreef’s Wild One vessel for Tallo Billa: Deep Listening at Dusk, an experience that allows guests to listen in on the secret underwater world and echoing songs of humpback whales. Setting off from Mooloolaba and anchoring off the coast on Sunday August 24, Sunday September 21 and Sunday September 28, Sunreef staff will equip participants with wireless headphones, which play live sounds collected by submerged hydrophones, accompanied by Kabi Kabi knowledge, stories and didgeridoo played by Lyndon Davis. Paired with the setting sun, this multi-sensory experience will immerse you in the nature and culture intrinsic to the Sunshine Coast.
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On Saturday September 13, Whale One – Sunreef’s refurbished catamaran, previously owned by Sunshine Coast royalty Steve Irwin – will offersthe same experience as Wild One, but a different destination – Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island, a short ride from Mooloolaba’s coast.
If you’re looking for an even more hypnotic and personal experience with the migrating whales, The Pressure Project is offering a new swim retreat running from June through to October. Whale Week allows for face-to-face access to the 40,000 whales that are journeying from Antarctica through to Queensland’s warmer waters to rest, interact and give birth. This respectfully intimate experience allows only eight guests each week, as a skilled team guides you through safe snorkelling and freediving through waters teeming with whales. The retreat also includes a focus on practices like meditation, breathwork, yoga, ice baths and workshops on ocean education, designed to make the experience more personally fulfilling.
Whale watching tours will be available across the Sunshine Coast until October with operators including Sunreef, Epic Ocean Adventures, Cavalier Cruises, Adventure Rafting Mooloolaba and Noosa Thriller Ocean Adventures. For more information on whale watching on the Sunshine Coast, click here.