By TRACEY SPICER
Drama and diplomacy: Whale watching remains a fun activity for the family.Credit: Jonas Liebschner
It was a simple spot of whale watching but it almost ended in a diplomatic incident.
We boarded the boat on the Gold Coast along with dozens of Japanese tourists.
After a wild ride on the roiling sea, not one, not two, but three humpbacks breached.
Fly-in, fly-out package: Fiji Seaplane Castaway.
Our son - who's pretty good on the fang - celebrated by screaming, "I eat them, mummy, I eat them!".
This caused a cacophony of calls from fellow passengers: "We eat them, too!" from one Japanese woman; "No, you can't eat them!" from an Australian man.
There I stood, his apologetic mother, caught in the middle: "Oh, he's just joking. He really likes his food. Ha ha! Sorry for any offence ..."
Save the odd bit of drama on the high seas, whale watching is a wonderful family activity.
In Sydney, Captain Cook Cruises has partnered with Taronga Zoo to include on-board commentary by a marine mammal keeper.
"As more whales come into contact with humans, the environment we create for them during the experience becomes even more important," says Captain Cook Cruises' most experienced Master, Joel Rose.
This is timely, given the recent crowding of a whale on Sydney's northern beaches, where some surfers ventured within whacking distance.
Experts say this season will be the longest and biggest in 50 years. "This year we're expecting between 2400 and 2500 whales," says Geoff Ross from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
WHERE TO SEE THEM
Eden, NSW
See the first humpbacks make their journey north between June and August, and mothers with their calves returning between September and November. Take the kids to the Killer Whale Museum to learn about the history of whaling in the area.
Great Australian Bight Marine Park, South Australia
About one third of southern right whales in Australia are born in the Bight. Check out The Head of Bight region for cliff-top viewing of whales mating, calving, and nursing. (I guess the mating might be hard to explain to young kids but they've got to learn sometime.)
Hervey Bay, Queensland
This is the spiritual home of whale watching. The waters are sheltered by Fraser Island. The humpbacks stay and play with their young before heading south.
Albany, Western Australia
You can see humpbacks travelling north to Broome, and southern rights taking shelter in the bays to give birth before returning south. Don't miss Whale World, an interactive museum which used to be a whaling station.
Warrnambool, Victoria
Southern right whales give birth in sheltered bays along the coast. There's a free viewing platform off Logans Beach Road.
Bruny Island, Tasmania
Occasionally species like the pygmy right whale, minke, and orca can be seen migrating past the island.
Source: Australiangeographic.com.au
WHEN YOU BRING THE KIDS ...
Also bring seasickness bands, ginger tablets, or ginger ale, as these vessels traverse rough waters. And hold on tight. I recall squeezing my legs around abench seat, with a toddler in each arm, as the catamaran pitched and heaved.
I know it's expensive. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
KIDS' DEAL
FIFO TO FIJI
Travel is half the adventure, especially when you catch a family fly-in, fly-out package to Fiji's Castaway Island in the Mamanucas. The five-night offer includes helicopter and sea plane transfers for two adults and two kids from Nadi Airport to the island. There's also plenty of water action, with snorkelling, a dolphin safari, sunset cruise and a ride on a banana boat included. From $5470 for a family of four, available until March 31, 2015. See castawayfiji.com.
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