Between July and September, humpback whales migrate along the east coast of Australia from their Antarctic feeding grounds to the warmer waters of Queensland to breed and give birth.

This seasonal journey offers an incredible opportunity to witness these gentle giants up close, often with sightings of mothers and calves later in the season. Tours during this time provide an unforgettable chance to see breaching, tail-slapping, and other natural behaviours in the wild.

Our Whale Watching experiences are conducted under Australian National Guidelines for Whale and Dolphin Watching to ensure the safety of both wildlife and passengers. For us this includes...

·        Respectful Distance: Vessels must maintain a minimum approach distance (usually 100 metres for adults and 300 metres for mothers with calves).

·        No Sudden Movements or Noise: Guests should avoid shouting, banging, or making loud noises that may disturb the whales.

·        Stay Seated When Required: Especially during manoeuvres or when whales are close to the vessel.

·        No Feeding or Touching: Whales are wild animals, and any interference can be harmful.

·       Photography Etiquette: Flash photography is discouraged to protect the animals’ natural behaviour.

·        The crew will manage the vessel’s speed, direction, and positioning to ensure encounters are safe, ethical, and enjoyable.

Accessibility

Great Keppel Island has no Pontoon or Jetty access meaning that every landing to the island is via the soft silicon sand beach. While this is amazing for those wanting to get sand between their toes, it does pose some issues for those who require wheelchair access. While Keppel Konnections is contantly trying to improve access it is most likely that a transfer of a person who is not able bodied would need to be via carrying from the vessel. Great Keppel Island Hideaway can on most occasions provide Buggy transport up to the resort where needed. Please call Keppel Konnections prior to booking to discuss options for guests who have mobility issues or limitations