Yeppoon to Hervey Bay

Hello all 
Sorry for the long pause between posts, but I haven't been idle or lost.
Just a reminder for those that don't know..........if you click on the photo's you get a bigger view.

After leaving a wet Yeppoon I headed South towards Gladstone. Gladstone, apart from the need to be part goat to live here(very hilly) is not a very attractive place. It is basically a mining port and support for mining.

Gladstone

Gladstone

With the inland areas still having pretty cold nights, and having a parcel and mail waiting in Hervey Bay, I headed straight down the highway to the Bay.

This meant skipping Tannum Sands, 1770 and Agnes Waters, but after leaving Hervey Bay I will double back to Gladstone before heading inland to Carnarvon Gorge filling in the gaps.
I have been in Hervey Bay nearly a week now............had my in dash Sat Nav/Media Player fitted, caught up my Cousins here and also Kevin, Tanya and Rob from Palomino RV Australia where I purchased my Camper nearly 2 years ago now.
Upon chatting to Kev, I mentioned that while I was here I was going to book a Whale Watch Tour, to which Kevin replied, Rob and I are going fishing on Saturday, why don't you come along? we may see some Whales.
Well, what a day it turned out to be..........................
First we headed out of the Marina towards Pelican Bank.

Leaving the Marina at Hervey Bay

off Hervey Bay heading for Fraser Island

Passing a Whale Watch Tour boat

Pelican Banks

The weather turned it on for us, but while the calm clear conditions was lousy for fishing, it was top class for Whale watching.

Pelican Banks

After a fruitless attempt at fishing in Kevin's secret spot, we headed to Fraser Island.

Kev's 23 footer moored in Coongul Creek, Fraser Island

Kevin from Palomino RV having a rest on Fraser Island

heading back out Coongul Creek

We headed out to the Whale watching areas with things looking a bit grim, and then out of the blue the Whales appeared.

our first view

All of a sudden we were surrounded by 3 Whales, at one stage all three were under the boat!

whales at Hervey Bay

a Whale under the boat

at one stage we had 3 whales circling the boat

Heading up to us for a look

Then the most amazing thing happened.............the whale pictured above swam right at us and probably about 4 metres away rose out of the water, had a look at us, then slid gracefully backwards after checking us out.

coming in for a look

checking us out

checking us out

synchronised swimming

We then came across another Pod of Whales,  showing off for us. They knew we were there, and just put on a display for us, which was amazing. they frolicked, they did upside down swim pasts, they did on the side swim by's and lots of fin slapping.
Quite a show in fact.............

saying hello

on the side swim by

whale at Fraser Island

saying hello

swim past

After a while this Pod decided to come in a lot closer to check us out..............

just showing off upside down

coming in for a look

waving upside down

they kept coming closer to look at us

REAL CLOSE

One of the Tour operators, a friend of Kev's said this is called "mugging" We certainly were being mugged by these whales.................I just kept saying to Kev.........."I think we need a bigger boat"

 After being "mugged" it was time to head back towards Hervey Bay. But first we made a stop at Woralie Creek on Fraser Island.

Kev's boat at Woralie Creek

kev "acting the goat" at Woralie Creek, Fraser island

Woralie Creek, Fraser Island

Woralie Creek, Fraser Island

An absolutely AMAZING day was had and I can't thank Kev and Rob (and Tanya, for giving Kev a leave pass to go fishing) from Palomino RV enough for this very enjoyable day.
Rob took an awesome video of one of the whales "fin slapping" I will get a copy off him and post it on my next update.
In a couple of days I will be heading back up the Coast to 1770 and Agnes Waters, before turning inland to Carnarvon Gorge, so stay tuned....................
Bye for now