The whales are back on the Sunshine Coast, with the 2021 Swim with Wales Season on the Sunshine Coast launched this week by Sunreef Mooloolaba, who say while humans have had to live with COVID lockdowns, 35,000 humpback whales don’t have travel restrictions and are expected to migrate through Sunshine Coast waters over the coming months.
Sunreef Mooloolaba owner Dan Hart says the whale watching season would run through until Sunday 31st October, with the Swim with Whales season to run until Sunday 17th October and pre-covid, whale seasons could expect to attract about 15,000 locals and tourists alike to take a closer look and participate in a whale watching or swim with whales experience, adding, “Everyone was affected by COVID last year, but we still had strong support from locals and the drive tourist market and hosted about 10,000 guests.
He said, “With Whale Watching season starting at the beginning of June and Swim with Whales season coming out of another lockdown, we are hoping to increase that this year, adding, “Already bookings are strong, and we hope that within COVID restrictions we have another great season.”
Sunshine Coast Councillor Jason O’Pray said whale season was an important part of winter tourism for the whole Sunshine Coast, adding, “Whale Watching season is an economic driver for the tourism sector, during what is traditionally a quieter period”, and “It brings in visitors, who spend not just on whale watching but also on accommodation, hospitality and other attractions, which in turn creates employment and I just love it!”
In another exciting development for the season, guests will see a huge new vessel around Mooloolaba, with the 24-metre T6 brought down from Cairns for use during the whale watching season, with Hart saying, “T6 is an incredible vessel for up to 100 guests with great whale watching viewing on the top deck, both inside and outside and great viewing on the bow, stern and inside on the bottom level as well”, adding that bringing T6 in for whale watching was part of Sunreef’s continuing commitment to growth.
He also said, “Last year, again during a lockdown, we added Tsunami for Swim with Whales and scuba & snorkelling trips, and now we are trialling T6 to see how she could potentially extend our whale watching, scuba diving and snorkelling offerings throughout the year.”
To find out more or book your Whale Watching or Swim with Whales experience, visit www.sunreef.com.au or call 07 5444 5656.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones, Special Correspondent Travel and Tourism Global Travel Media
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