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13 July 2016 by Ronan Gay
From the Gold Coast to the Tropical North, Queensland has over 7400km of coastline inhabited by hundreds of species of marine wildlife.
A trip Down Under is the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with these unique creatures, such as the colossal humpback whale on the Fraser Coast or century old turtles at Mont Repos beach in Bundaberg. Here is an marine lover's guide to exploring Queensland's best marine life experiences:
Humpback whales on Fraser Coast
Seven thousand Humpback whales migrate over a 3,700-mile journey from Antarctica through the Fraser Coast each year. Their pods can be spotted in the shallow coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef, but are best seen in the protected waters of Hervey Bay, known as the Whale Watching capital of Australia.
Dolphin feeding on Tangalooma Island
Take a relaxing cruise from Brisbane across Moreton Bay to the Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort on Moreton Island. Feed dolphins in-shore as they swim up to the beach or join the marine eco cruise journeying south along the western coastline of Moreton Island in search dugongs, dolphins, green sea turtles, sea cucumbers and stingrays.
Turtle encounters in Bundaberg
Queensland is home to a large variety of turtles such as the loggerhead, green, leatherback and flatback, with some as old as 200 years. From November to March every year, you can witness one of the true wonders of the natural world up close as hundreds of turtles return to the bountiful waters of Australia's best known and most accessible sea turtle rookery, Mont Repos, just 15 kilometres from Bundaberg.
Swim eye to eye with dwarf minke whales in Cairns
Enjoy an experience with seven-tonne dwarf minke whales in an environment that is both awe-inspiring and educational. It is not unusual for these gentle giants to come within a metre of snorkelers for an eye-to-eye encounter.
Find Nemo on the Great Barrier Reef
Explore the Low Isles of the Great Barrier Reef, home to the famous clown fish. Spend a day swimming and snorkelling and learning of the unique marine life and soft coral gardens at the water's edge.
