Head to the coast and watch the whales. The humpback whales migrate from Antarctica up the coast of Australia each winter. More than 10,000 humpback whales pass the Gold Coast, Australia, between June and the end of October. There are reports these numbers are on the rise.
Last week-end a pair of beautiful humpback whales gracefully displayed a romantic dance that any So You Think You Can Dance contestant would envy. The whale watching boat pulled along the whales and matched their leisurely pace of 4 knots. The pair sensed our presence and paused for a bit to play a bit of under-the-boat-hide-and-seek with us. In unison, each blew a huge fount of water, flicked their tails, and disappeared for several minutes while all on board held their breaths and rushed from side-to-side of the boat, hoping to be the first one to see when the whales reappeared. And reappear they always did! With dramatic fashion they would surface, coming closer to the boat for a look-see at their new playmate.
These sleek and well-fed whales soon tired of this game. Their attraction for each other was too strong. Playful and persistence once again they resumed their graceful dance, water spout to water spout, tail flap to tail flap they swam north to warm waters. And as in any great dance, the female occasionally showed her resistance by rolling her graceful body to the side, her snow white belly just beneath the water. But only for a moment, before she turned and they danced together again.
Nearly an hour later, the boat pulled away and we said our silent farewells. All of us, seasoned and newbie whale watchers, were somehow changed by witnessing the migration of the great humpback whales.
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