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Published: November 12th 2015
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Our second weekend away from the city was to be an epic one. I knew that the east coast of Australia was great for spotting Humpback Whales from May to November and was thrilled to find a company that allowed you in the water to swim with them as well. Sunreef, as it turns out, are the only company Australia currently to have the licence to offer this although it looks like a couple more will get the opportunity next year.
Saturday morning we picked up our car hire and drove an hour or so north to the Glasshouse Mountains National Park. The mountains are a group of eleven hills that rise from the flat plain. They are volcanic plugs left behind when the volcanoes around them made of softer rock where eroded away, which in my book makes them pretty damn cool. After popping in to the visitor centre to pick up a trails map we headed to the main lookout point to get an overview of the National Park. It was a beautiful clear day so the views stretched right down to the coast. There was a quick 30 minute walk here which we did to stretch our
legs before lunch and then headed to Mount Tibrogargan for a 3 hour circuit trail. This walk was fantastic taking us through different types of woodland and heathland all with the mountain providing the background. One quick detour from the circuit took us to another great lookout spot, and at one point we were walking through burnt Eucalyptus forest. There was nothing to indicate whether it was a controlled or wild fire but either way it was pretty eerie walking through the blackened, leave-less trees. Once completed we drove on to the Mooloolah River National Park, and went on a shorted stroll by the river side. This NP is completely different as the river has helped to create a lowland rainforest full of palms, crazy vines and gumtrees. We spent that night in Mooloolaba and feasted on Ribs and Chips (with a couple of beers!) but was early to bed so eager here we for the next day to begin!
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a great swimmer... I have a tendency to sink! But it'll never stop me from getting in the water for something like Swimming with Humpback Whales. As our boat left
the harbour our guide explained how great a time of year it was for Humpbacks, they migrate up the East Coast of Australia to their mating grounds and then head back down again. The plan was we'd go looking for the huge mammals and hopefully one will be interested enough by the boat to slow down and allow us to get in the water. And so it started, it wasn't long before we spotted Whales but they were all diving down or going to fast for us to get in the water. It was still pretty awesome though, from the boat we got close enough make out how damn massive they are - about 45ft - and we got plenty of water spouts and tail slaps. And then one decided to play ball. The boat approached and he slowed down. Action stations! The skipper took us in front of its path and we jumped in the water. I put my face down in the water and there he was swimming up to and then under us before heading off into the blue. And if that wasn't amazing enough a pod of Dolphins joined the fun! 4 swam around us for
30 seconds or so before chasing off after whale. One of the best things was being able to hear them all communicate to each other. Amazing! It was all cheers and high fives back on the boat as we discussed just how close we were! After that the next couple of hours flew by, the whales were still motoring past us (to be fair they were heading there breeding grounds!) but I did get to see the most amazing breach, where I swear the whole whale left the water! Just as we were about to call it a day we came across a mother and its calf. After sailing alongside for a short while they both stopped. And so we all dived in again, obviously protecting its calf the mother whale didn't want to hang around and so I just managed to catch them swimming away... but that was awesome enough. That glimpse left me wanting more but time had defeated us and so we headed back to shore. It was an incredible experience, if you happen to be in Brisbane when whales are in town... don't just go watching. Get in the water!
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