Whales And Dolphins In The Great Barrier Reef
Whales and dolphins frequent the waters of the East Coast Australia, some as full time residents and others as visitors only. Dolphins can be seen all year around on the reefs, while whales migrate during winter only, coming to the Australian tropics to calve and nurse their young. Both are a beautiful sight, with tours getting to see them regularly - just ask your tour guide the best way to spot them!
Whales and Dolphins in the Great Barrier Reef
Humpback whale
Humpback whales are a type of baleen whale found in the Great Barrier Reef. They are characterized by their size and behavior, and are arguably the most well-known whale species in the reef. They are grey or black, with white on their underbelly with large wing-like flippers and a small dorsal fin far down their back. They migrate to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park every winter to calve and nurse their young while gaining strength and conserving as much energy as possible before returning to Antarctica to feed in the summer months. Females are larger than males and can grow up to 15 meters or 40 tonnes, and give birth approximately every two years. They are famous for their breaching abilities, often putting off mesmerizing shows, full of aerobatics and leaps, making them a sought after encounter for tourists.
Dwarf minke whale
Dwarf minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whale family only growing up to 8 meters in length. They too travel to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park during the winter months, but there is little known about their migratory patterns or even why they leave the south. Unfortunately, as they were only discovered in the 1980s, there is little scientific information available about dwarf minkes.
Common bottlenose dolphin
The bottlenose dolphin is definitely the most iconic dolphin species, and has become the poster dolphin for the entire dolphin family. They are commonly seen in captivity and in movies (think Flipper and Sea World). Named for the shape of their nose, they are grey in colour with darker fins and white underbellies, and are roughly 2 meters in length. They live in pods that can range from 10 - 1000 dolphins and hunt in groups, using geo-location to locate their food, and like all other mammals, breathe oxygen to survive. They must surface every few minutes, especially when in a high speed chase. They are extremely intelligent and are a favourite to tourists (and locals) in the Whitsundays!
Spinner dolphin
A frequent visitor of the Outer Great Barrier Reef, the spinner dolphin is so named for its tendency to leap and spin out of the water, producing a great show for anyone around lucky enough to see it! They grow to be about 2 meters long and weigh around 75kg and can travel in groups of over 200 dolphins. They are quite playful and are often seen riding on the bow waves of passing boats!
Migaloo
Migaloo is Australia's - if not the world's - most famous whale. He is a full grown white humpback whale and has made a reputation worldwide, drawing whale lovers to Australia in the hope of catching a glimpse. At the time of his discovery in 1991 he was the only confirmed all white whale in the world, and has since migrated to Australia yearly during the summer months. First sighted off the shores of Byron Bay, Migaloo's activity has been tracked every year when he moves north, with websites and social media accounts dedicated to his activity. He is pure white with brown eyes, not yet allowing him to qualify as albino until further genetic testing is done, but is instead considered to be hypo-pigmented. Named by Australian Aboriginals, Migaloo means White Fella.
How To See Whales and Dolphins In Australia
The best way to spot any of these unique whale and dolphin species is to join a boat tour at sea! Spending quality time out on the water gives you the best chances of seeing marine life. And of course, visit at the right time of year! The winter months are the best for seeing whales, though you can see dolphins year-round. So bring a camera, join a day tour, and have a blast whale watching along the East Coast of Australia!
