Coffs Harbour Whale Watching

When  we left Liz and Dave's we had planned on riding up to Byron Bay but when we stopped in Coffs Harbour for a coffee, I spotted a large sign reading "Whale Watching Tours" SPECIAL $18.00pp Well the sun was shining and we knew the whales were out there as we had been seeing them all the way up the coast. So it didn't take me long to talk Chenty into a boat ride. The timing was perfect I thought as it was a two and a half hour trip leaving at 1.00 pm and it was just getting to be 12.30. so I thought it would still give us enough time to get to Byron Bay when we got in.

Once again I find myself looking out to sea

The sign at the harbour entrance
 just in case you get lost at sea

Most of the towns on the coast have a reasonable size fishing fleet

Quite a large fishing fleet lives in the harbour

The multi hull cat boat we went out on

OK everybody LOOK for Whales

 We actually got to see one small calf and also an adult whale. These are the Humpbacks traveling north to give birth in the warm waters of Hervey Bay. I was hopping to see them spy hopping and playing as we had watched them doing this in the distance from several places on our way north but alas it was not to be. I guess today they were just trying to make up for lost time and were just trucking through.

Looking back at the harbour entrance
The mountains are the reason for the
good climate in these parts

There she blows

 Well it was a great day all the same and to see these mammals in the wild will always be a thrill and like back home, they are protected here in Australia.

Cormorants  out for their supper

No matter where I am, I always enjoy
a day on the ocean!

After a great afternoon on the boat we arrive back to the harbour a little later than planned and decide that trying to make it to Byron Bay before nightfall would be a bit of a push so we decide to stay in the small town of Ballina. Not much seems to be happening in this town so we find a cheap motel and hit he sack.