A Whale of a Time

[Mad Aussie]

My wife and I took the afternoon off on Friday and drove 4 hours north to the town of Hervey Bay.

At 7am the next morning we were sitting on the Quick Cat ll ready for a half day of Humpback Whale Watching. Never done that before from a boat ... only from a headland.

So ... if it interests you ... sit back and enjoy a cruise with me ...

Clicking the photos and selecting larger sizes yields a sharper photo

7am and about to depart.
Quick Cat ll by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Looking back at the Urangan Pier a few minutes after leaving ...
sa-1229 by AstroVisual, on Flickr

A jet aircraft contrail high above the Quick Cat ll
Contrail over Quick Cat ll by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Passing an island on the way to a resort for another pickup we see the carcass of what is believed to be a Pigmy Blue Whale awaiting scientific analysis
Carcass by AstroVisual, on Flickr

It was shaping up to be a beautiful day. The fore decks of Quick Cat ll with our group front and center of shot
Quick Cat ll by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Coming into the Kingfisher Bay Resort Jetty in Kingfisher Bay on Fraser Island
Kingfisher Bay - Fraser Island by AstroVisual, on Flickr

The 'Kingfisher Bay' ... a car ferry
The Kingfisher Bay by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Freedom lll is another whale watching boat
Freedom lll by AstroVisual, on Flickr

more soon ...

[Mad Aussie]

Small hull used as floating breakwater for the jetty at Kingfisher bay
Kingfisher Bay - Fraser Island by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Fraser Island looking nice and tropical
Tropical Beach by AstroVisual, on Flickr

A few others enjoying the day
Setting Sail by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Imagine out enjoy some wind and sun
Imagine by AstroVisual, on Flickr

The first half decent sighting
Diving Humpback by AstroVisual, on Flickr

They got closer ...
A Whale of a Time by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Humpback Prowess by AstroVisual, on Flickr

more later ...

[Mad Aussie]

Tail Slapping to impress the ladies ...
Humpback Slapping Good Time by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Humpbacks Love Playtime by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Humpback Waterfall by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Humpback Play by AstroVisual, on Flickr

A Tale of a Humpback by AstroVisual, on Flickr

more soon ...

[Mad Aussie]

Remember ... for clearer sharper photos click the photos and see them directly at Flickr

Humpback calf
Close Encounters of the Humpback Kind by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Crew member holds the underwater viewing camera while the humpback calf comes in close
Humpback Close Encounter by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Very close ...
Humpback Whale Calf by AstroVisual, on Flickr
Very VERY close ...
Barnacles and the Humpback by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Humpback Calf by AstroVisual, on Flickr

Blowholes (Whales have two like our nostrils) ...
Humpback Blowhole by AstroVisual, on Flickr

An Adult setting sail for some peace and quiet
Setting Sail - Humpback by AstroVisual, on Flickr

[Matt K.]

Great series, love the "7am about to depart" shot, and then the "Humpback Play"; nicely done MA.

[Mad Aussie]

Great series, love the "7am about to depart" shot, and then the "Humpback Play"; nicely done MA.

Thanks Matt. Nice to know which ones appealed most too.

[JAS_Photo]

Lovely set, MA! Loved all the whale photos and the little sailing sloop! Took a look at them in Flickr's lightbox and they are really stunning there.

[Mad Aussie]

Lovely set, MA! Loved all the whale photos and the little sailing sloop! Took a look at them in Flickr's lightbox and they are really stunning there.

Thank you very much JAS

[Marko]

Gorgeous set MA!

I was going to look into the flickr issue for you, but I'm assuming you figured it out?

Thx - Marko

[JAS_Photo]

I don't think it is a flickr issue, Marko. The board itself reduces photos to a certain size. Just click on one of MA's photos and open image in new tab and you will see the difference.