Departs Urangan Boat Harbour at 9.30am
Returns at approx. 2.00pm.
Courtesy Bus Pick-up Available in Hervey Bay

FANTASTIC DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE
With protection from Fraser Island, the largest Sand Island in the world, the area known as The Great Sandy Straits, supports a number of diverse and relatively undisturbed habitats for fish, birds, animals and marine life.

Our tour is called a “Dolphin Watch” because there are three different species commonly observed in our pristine waters. But there is so much more to see. The Dugong (or sea cow) is shy, elusive, and often observed grazing on the sea grass beds of the area. Hervey Bay is lucky to be able to boast the second largest population on the East Coast of Australia. Not only can you expect to see Dolphins and Dugongs, but a diverse kaleidoscope of other life.
 

DOLPHINS: Bottlenose are common in Australian waters and generally love to playfully interact with boats. Common dolphins with there tan and black markings are the striking speedsters of the sea. Indo-Pacific Humpbacks are named so due to their easily distinguished dorsal fin. They are shy and territorial.
DUGONGS: This truly herbivorous marine mammal can be observed in its natural habitat feeding on Seagrass beds. These beds play an important part in the food chain for many other forms of life including turtles, juvenile fish and prawns.
TURTLES: Green Turtles are the most common in our area, found in the same areas as dugongs. They often pop up close to the boat,’ just to take a look’. Loggerheads and the rare Leatherback also frequent Hervey Bay and surrounding waters, with all three species using the area as a nursery.
RAYS: Leopard, Manta, and Eagle Rays are seen mainly around the shallow flats of the Straits, and can often be seen cruising just below the surface and occasionally leaping from the water in a spectacular fashion.
BIRDS: Pelicans are often seen fishing throughout the Great Sandy Straits area, many of them are extremely cheeky when it comes to a free feed. Brahman Kites are a majestic bird, with a striking rust coloured body, and an all white head. They’re often seen fishing our waterways. Ospreys are commonly seen diving to scoop fish from the water with their talons. Sea Eagles are seen mainly around the numerous islands of the Straits. Their formidable beauty and statuesque pose, enforces their position as the ‘first family’ in the bird kingdom.

WHALES:

• Everyone knows of our annual visit by the Humpback Whale, between August and November, but what most people don’t realize is that we are also visited by other varieties.
• Minkes are small streamlined whales often mistaken for dolphins as they speed about the Bay.
• Various species periodically / seasonally visit the Great Sandy Straits area.

We now also have a colour under water video camera, which allows you to see the action down under to a depth of 30.5 metres or 100 feet. We record our footage so that people watching it live, can view it later. The boat is equipped with two full size monitors within our lower main cabin, and one monitor in the upstairs cabin, so there is no reason to miss any of the action.

Are you looking to do something which:

• shows our diverse kaleidoscope of wildlife,
• is on our spectacular waterways,
• which is not only fun but educational,
• that doesn’t take up the whole day,
• which is not just a cruise on the water searching / viewing the endangered elusive dugong, or one of the three varieties of dolphin which frequents our waterways, turtles, rays, and fish, but a great morning in the Hervey Bay Marine Park, with a more than substantial morning tea of muffins, Danish pastries and a tropical fruit platter.

Complimented by fresh hot coffee, leaf tea, cordial or filtered cold water.

Our staff are fully trained in customer service, and go out of their way to ensure an enjoyable time is had by all. Kids corner is available for the little ones, while the rest are kept busy perusing the water / sky or foreshore for the next sighting, or just sitting back and enjoying the luxurious, stable ride that is M.V. WHALESONG.