Hervey Bay Gossip

It’s almost whale hunting season in the waters around Antarctica and the Japanese whaling fleet is heading south for it’s so-called ‘research’.  The Sea Shepherd organisation is also heading south with it’s vessel … the Steve Irwin … and a new weapon in the fight to protect the whales.

The Ady Gil may have an innocent enough sounding name but there’s something quite scary about this boat and it just may save a few more whales that will come back to Hervey Bay next whale-watching season.

If you’re thinking of coming up to Hervey Bay to go whale watching then the crew from Freedom III and all the other whale watching boats want you to know that there are still plenty of whales out there in the bay.

Today Freedom III often had three to four pods in view at a time so it’s still a good time to come whale watching in Hervey Bay. You can follow this link to Freedom III’s website for more information.

Here is a link to a short video shot from Freedom III earlier this month

And if you’re looking for accommodation in Hervey Bay then follow that link to the Holiday Hervey Bay website for links to all the best accommodation in town.

This is the time of year when the whales come to Hervey Bay … the Humpback whales that is … but whale researchers spotted a Southern Right Whale and her calf in the bay a couple of days ago.

Southern Right Whales are very rare visitors to Hervey Bay but experts suggest that if one has come in with it’s calf then we should see more in the future.

Although quite different to our regular Humpback whales it seems that the 14 metre Southern Right Whale put on just as good a display as the Humpbacks do.

While most tourism operators in Hervey Bay would like to see the start of the whale watching season let’s face some facts … the spotting of two whales off Kingfisher Bay does not mean that the whale watching season has come early.

Whales seldom come this far down into the bay and when they do it’s more likely to be much later in the season. Add to that the fact that it’s not unknown for whales to come across the bar at the southern end of the Fraser Island and swim up the bay on their northward migration. So let’s not get too excited just yet, the whales will come to Hervey Bay as they do every year … in their own good time.

Let’s just hope that the tourists come too … there’s certainly plenty great things to see and do in Hervey Bay even without the whales.

Yesterday’s sunrise from the beachfront at Torquay

The whales are on the move again and that’s good news for Hervey Bay.

The first whales heading north are expected to pass to the east of Fraser Island later this week and we’ll see them coming into Hervey Bay in July.

While there’s more competition for our whale-watching industry from boats on the Gold Coast and in Sydney none of those operators can show tourists the whales in quite the same environment and frame of mind as we can here in Hervey Bay.

Hervey Bay Whale Watch’s Quick Cat II has been named a finalist in the tour and transport operators category at the prestigious 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced.

The awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, were announced in a gala ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this evening.

Ms Boyle congratulated operators Brian and Jill Perry on another outstanding achievement.

“Hervey Bay Whale Watch has thrilled hundreds of visitors to Hervey Bay since its inception 20 years ago and it’s terrific to see their hard work and vision recognised,” she said.

“It’s this level of enthusiasm and a commitment to providing quality service and imaginative experiences which really epitomises what the awards - and indeed the tourism industry in Queensland - is all about.”

Ms Boyle said competition had been strong at this year’s awards, with more than 200 entries across 29 categories.

“The awards recognise and reward excellence, innovation and success in our industry and all winners and finalists are to be commended for their efforts,” she said.

“Congratulations to Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards.

“Thank you to our awards’ platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support in presenting the 2008 awards.”

QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the awards’ 13-member judging panel was impressed by entrants’ high degree of professionalism and business acumen.

“In these tough economic times, it becomes more imperative than ever for tourism businesses to employ sound planning and rigorous self-assessment,” Mr Gschwind said.

“The Queensland Tourism Awards remains one of the best tools to guide operators through this process, with business planning a key component of every entry.

“Competition was as strong as ever this year and judges were pleased to see such high standards applied to submissions.”

While it doesn’t happen often it’s not uncommon to see whales off Point Vernon but last weekend at least one whale came even further into Hervey Bay.

Larry Burch from Aquavue Cafe Watersports reported seeing a large whale in the channel off Shelly Beach on Saturday and some of the whale watching tour operators are reporting that the whales have come much further into the bay than in past years.

It’s expected that the whale watching season will continue into November.

The whale watching season is still happening here in Hervey Bay so if you’re thinking of coming up to see the whales there’s still some time.

Here’s one group arriving back at the Marina yesterday after spending the afternoon out with the whales.

Police today impounded a bus at Urangan less than a week after impounding a B-double truck at Murrumba Downs

Police Minister Judy Spence said: “Our tough new laws targetting repeat offenders are working and it is not just cars and motor bikes being impounded.

“Police stopped the bus today near Urangan Marina for allegedly disobeying a stop sign whilst carrying passengers bound for a whale watching trip.

“The 40-year-old woman driver is allegedly a repeat unlicensed driver and the bus was impounded for 48 hours.

“However, it was first allowed to drop off the passengers at the Marina a few hundred metres away.

“Police allege the bus was also unregistered and the insurance on the bus had expired.

“The woman is due to appear in the Maryborough Magistrates Court on September 10 for driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle, contravene a requirement and unlicensed driving.

“Last Wednesday police impounded a B-double truck after its driver was caught unlicensed twice on the same day.

“About 11am the 52-year-old driver was intercepted after the truck was travelling on a road not designated for heavy vehicles in Pine Rivers. The driver was found to be unlicensed and a number of infringement notices were issued.

“Just before 3pm the B-double truck was again pulled over, this time on the onramp to the Bruce Highway at Anzac Avenue, Murrumba Downs with the same driver at the wheel.

“The prime mover was impounded for 48hrs.

“People must realise if they flout the law they will be caught,” Ms Spence said.

The first whales of the season have been spotted in Hervey Bay. A local whale boat was up at the top of the bay on Saturday morning and the whales were waiting for them.

It promises to be a good season so if you’re thinking of doing some whale watching this season then come to Hervey Bay to do it. In other places the whales are on the move but here in Hervey Bay they come to play.