A record number of Humpbacks are set to pass through Newcastle this year.
The annual whale watching season officially launched on Saturday.
From late May through to early November, Newcastle’s stunning coastline comes alive with the annual migration of thousands of majestic Humpback whales.
The whales are making their way from feeding grounds in the icy Antarctic Southern Ocean to the warmer waters off northern Queensland.
NOVA Cruises general manager, Peter Hanrahan, said it would be a bumper season, with the highest number of Humpbacks since whaling ceased on the East Coast in 1962 and nationally in 1979.
“Back then it was estimated there was only 200 to 500 Humpbacks left in the East Coast population.
“This year we are anticipating over 33,000 Humpback whales to pass the Hunter coastline.
“We are slowly making our way back to predicted numbers of 36,000 to 40,000 Humpbacks, which used to migrate pre-whaling days.”
Apart from whales, seals, sea birds, sharks and more can be seen from the city’s shores.
The 2019 whale watching season operates from June 1 to October 30, sighting whales on their northern migration from June to August, and again on the southern migration, viewing mothers and their newborn calves during September and October.
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