When do humpback whales migrate along Australia's coast?
Humpback whales migrate north along Australia's east and west coasts from about May to August, then return south from about September to November, often with newborn calves.
Each year, tens of thousands of humpbacks travel from feeding grounds in Antarctic waters to warm breeding waters off Queensland and Western Australia. The round trip can exceed 10,000 kilometres, one of the longest migrations of any mammal.
In the north, females give birth and males compete for mates, often singing complex songs that can last for hours. On the return journey, mothers and calves often rest in sheltered bays such as Hervey Bay.
A conservation success
Commercial whaling reduced the east coast population to only a few hundred animals by the early 1960s. Australia ended whaling in 1978, and numbers have since recovered strongly.
Popular whale-watching spots include Hervey Bay, the Gold Coast, Sydney's headlands, Byron Bay, Augusta and Exmouth.
Migaloo, a famous white humpback, has been seen along the east coast since 1991.
Did You Know?
Humpback whales barely eat during their migration, living off fat reserves built up in Antarctic waters.