The humpback whale annual migration is in full swing and as part of the Marine Discovery Program, visiting marine naturalist Jeannie Lawson will be on hand to provide some insights into this amazing event.
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Each year more than 35,000 humpback whales travel from their Antarctic summer feeding grounds along the east coast of Australia in one of nature's grandest spectacles.
Luckily Mid Coast residents and visitors can witness it all from local headlands.
Hunter Local Land Services and MidCoast Council are hosting a number of field talks as part of the Marine Discovery Program, which brings together some of the leading names in marine research and conservation to share their findings and raise awareness of our amazing ocean environments.
In the upcoming series Jeannie will be conducting free 40 minute talks at Bennetts Head, Forster on Saturday, July 21 at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm - while the humpbacks cruise past on their way north to breed, give birth and nurture their young.
"The talks are free and there's no need to book - simply turn up and we can enjoy the whales together," MidCoast Council's community engagement and education officer, Erin Masters said.
On Sunday, July 22, you can join Jeannie for a Rock Pool Ramble tour at Cape Hawke in Forster, commencing at 8.45am at the surf club.
This event is also free, but bookings are essential as there are only limited spaces available on a first-in basis.
For more information and to reserve your place, visit www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/marinediscovery and complete the online form.
Free viewing locations for whale spotting in the region:
- Crowdy Head lighthouse
- The viewing platform at Wallabi Point (access from the Headland Walking Track which begins at the end of Saltwater Road).
- Whale watching platform at Black Head (access via the street behind the Black Head Surf Lifesaving Club).
- Cape Hawke lookout in Booti Booti National Park
- Bennetts Head
- Port Macquarie coast walk in Tacking Point
- Smoky Cape Lighthouse in Hat Head National Park
- Sugarloaf Point at Seal Rocks
