HAVING A WHALE OF A TIME

IT’S JUNE SO THE GENTLE GIANTS OF THE OCEANS ARE RETURNING OFF THE COAST:

MOST PEOPLE WHO COME OUT ARE AMAZED THAT THE WHALES WILL COME UP CLOSE:

As winter approaches in Albany, a growing sense of excitement begins to spread throughout the city. Whispers that the first guests have started to arrive begin to fly around and eyes glow at the thought of the avalanche of pending visitors.

Each year, treasured friends return to Albany, bringing their families and showing of their children during their stay. These whales - hundreds of them - are the stuff of treasured holiday memories.

Perhaps no other place in the state has such a profusion of whales during the whale-watching season from this month through to October.

You may be lucky enough to spot a blue whale and you’re almost guaranteed to see humpbacks and southern rights.

The souther rights are particularly treasured visitors. They are known to take up residence in bays within hundreds of metres of shore, where they give birth and nurture newborn calves.

Residents and visitors alike sit on the shores, mesmerised by these gentle giants as they watch the at-first wrinkly calf begin to grow and become more adventurous.


Living in such close confines with these visitors has sparked a tight-knit bond between Albany residents and their whale friends. They are fierce advocates of anti - whaling and are fast to sing their praises.

So what is it about whales that is so captivating? Maybe it’s their size or perhaps their intelligence. It could be their curiosity, the way they’ll approach and seemingly look you in the eye. Or maybe it’s their song and acrobatics.

Whatever the case, simply talk to Albany people about what they love about whales and, while they find it difficult to verbalise, the look in their eye quickly reveals the way they feel about these ocean giants.

Perhaps no one in Albany sees the whales more frequently that Silver Star Cruise’s whale charters. Owner Paul Guest says these marine mammals never fail to captivate.
“They really are amazing, “he says, “We’ll get situation like one time when a mum and a calf swam up to us and she turned and actually fed the calf.
”She squirted milkk into the water, it was like yoghurt, and the calf came across on top of the mum out of the water - it almost seemed to lick its lips. It was awesome.
“or we were steaming long, not seeing any whales and then all of a sudden heard this scream ‘whales’ and stopped, turning off the motors and actually heard them sing.
“We threw an underwater microphone over the side and played their music over the loud speakers.
“Most people who come out are amazed that the whales will come up close”. Paul’s partner, Susie, whom he describes as a “whale nut”, is a big believer in a special connection between whales and humans.
“They’re beautiful,” she says. “They’ve got spirit,they can heal people. When you look into the eye of a whale you’ve looked into their soul”.

When it comes to find out more about these enchanting species and our once gruesome whaling industry, you can’t beat a visit to Wale World. It is based at what was once a fully operational whaling station and provides an insight into the ehaling industry and has giant skeletons of whales, including an impressive 22m specimen of a pygmy blue whale.

You can also step aboard a former whaling boat. The Whales World’s oceanside location means you often see the whales out to sea while you’re strolling about the facility. Sight one and you’ll soon find yourself concurring with Albany residents.

There is really is something special about whales.