Hervey Bay - A Whale Of A Time

Each year from late July to early November, visitors from around the globe descend on the foremost humpback whale watching area in the world.

Humpback whale flukes

The calm turquoise coloured waters of Hervey Bay, 290 kilometres from Brisbane in Queensland Australia, provide a resting place for up to 400 humpbacks each year as they migrate south along the east coast of Australia to the cold waters of the Antarctic.

Humpback whale head

The opening of each whale watching season commences with the Hervey Bay Whale Festival, and this years event is scheduled for the 5th-13th August 2006.

On Saturday 5th August, there will be a Blessing Of The Fleet at the Hervey Bay Marina and it will be conducted by representatives of the churches in Hervey Bay. The ever popular fireworks display will be held at the harbour in the evening.

Another highlight of the festival will be the floats that form part of the Electric Light Parade which travels along the esplanade to the Seafront Oval on Saturday 12th August.

Humpback performing for the tourists

First time whale watchers are usually gob smacked by the sight of these mammals as they inquisitively approach the fleet of boats that operate out of the Hervey Bay Marina.

Cries of "whooaaa" "ooohhh" "did you see that?" "they're awesome," are frequent amongst first time whale watchers as the whales go about their frolicking in very close proximity to the boats.

Spirit Of Hervey Bay

One of the most popular whale watch vessels is the Spirit Of Hervey Bay, which offers an eye-ball to eye-ball experience. The vessel has two underwater viewing rooms, each being equipped with four viewing windows.

Spirit Of Hervey Bay provides excellent viewing platforms and seating along with a galley supplying light refreshments and snacks.

Great Sandy Straits Resort

For accommodation, the Great Sandy Straits Resort is ideally located adjacent to the harbour. Facilities include; family swimming pool, 25 metre lap pool, bicycle hire, 2 full-sized tennis courts, games room, sauna and childrens playground.

Recommendations

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Whale Watching

Spirit Of Hervey Bay - www.spiritofherveybay.com

Accommodation

Great Sandy Straits Resort - www.greatsandystraits.com.au

Meals and Entertainment

Hervey Bay Boat Club - www.boatclub.com.au

Hervey Bay RSL Club - www.herveybayrsl.com.au

Airlines

Virgin - www.virginblue.com.au

Jetstar - www.jetstar.com.au

Car Hire

Europcar - www.europcar.com.au

Thrifty - www.thrifty.com.au

Budget - www.budget.com.au

Allow yourself to be gob smacked and visit Hervey Bay for a 'HUGE' experience.

Merimbula - Jewel Of The Sapphire Coast

Merimbula Wharf

Attractions abound for everyone in the gorgeous seaside resort town of Merimbula, located on the Far South Coast of New South Wales in Australia. With a population around 4000, it's common for this family friendly destination to swell in size to 20,000 during the peak summer holiday season.

Mitchies Jetty

Accommodation choices are numerous around Merimbula, which include luxury style apartments, units, hotels, motels, cabins and camping grounds. Prices fluctuate widely during the year, with peak period times at Christmas and Easter commanding the higher fees. Bookings are highly recommended in peak times.

Highly recommended accommodation

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Albacore Resort

www.albacore.com.au

Anchor Bell Apartments

www.anchorbell.com.au

Sapphire Waters Motor Inn

www.sapphirewatersmotorinn.com.au

Merimbula Holiday Park

www.holidaypark.com.au

For more accommodation information, contact the Merimbula Tourist Information Centre, Beach Street, Merimbula, New South Wales 2548 Ph: (02) 6495 1129.

Long Point

Scuba diving is popular in and around Merimbula, with local dive operator, Dolphin Cove Dive, offering learn to dive programs through to instructor level courses. Gear can be hired, and charter trips can be arranged to designated dive sites which include the submerged shipwrecks, The Tasman Hauler, The Henry Bolte and The Empire Gladstone. Dolphin Cove Dive can be emailed at info@dolphincove.com.au . Check their informative website www.dolphincove.com.au

Bar Beach

Swimming at Merimbula's beaches is relatively safe, with the protected Bar Beach being known as the safest in the area for families. Picnic tables, electric bbq's and toilets are provided at this scenic location.

Photographers and artists find the Bar Beach area to be of enormous inspiration, with the spectacular scenery across the lake to Main Beach providing for excellent photography and painting opportunities. Photography and painting works can be found in the local stores and galleries in and around Merimbula.

Main Beach

Main Beach is Merimbula's most popular beach, due to its close proximity to accommodation establishments that abound on the area known as The Fishpen. Swimmers, body boarders and windsurfers find this spot ideal, while local and visiting fishermen wet a line here and land regular catches of flathead, whiting, salmon and mullet.

Merimbula Lake

Merimbula Lake is the main mooring area for local charter and hire boats. Merimbula Marina booking office is located at the end of the Merimbula Jetty, where half-day and full-day fishing trips can be booked.

During the whale watching season between September-November, trips can be booked with local whale watch operator True Blue. Humpback whales with their calves frolic in and around close to the shores of Merimbula.

True Blue conduct two trips per day with a 3.5 hour morning cruise departing at 8 am. Prices are Adult $70-00, Child 5-15 $45-00 and Child 0-4 $20-00. Concession and family rates are also available. A 2.5 hour afternoon trip is also conducted and more information can be found on the Merimbula Marina website http://www.acr.net.au/~merimbulamarina/

Reel Affair is another charter boat operator offering fishing and whale watching trips. http://www.reelaffair.com.au/the_boat.htm

Jetty - Top Lake

The Top Lake at Merimbula is another first-class location for fishing, whether it be from a small boat or land based. The lake has an abundance of fish which include flathead, tailor, bream, trevally and luderick. Prawns can be easily caught in the lake during the warmer months when the moon is "dark".

For those looking for a scenic flat walk, there's a 3km boardwalk around the edge of the lake. The walk commences at the Merimbula Lake bridge and finishes at the Merimbula Top Lake Boat Hire. It's a delightful where you'll experience the sights and sounds of various species of birds. Information boards and seating are located along the boardwalk.

Market Street

Market Street is the main thoroughfare through Merimbula. The Lakeview Hotel is located at No: 1 Market Street and is directly opposite the lake. The views from the bistro lounge overlooking the lake are superb, and when combined with a sumptuous meal of either steak, chicken or fish, you are guaranteed an eating experience to savour.

Merimbula is renowned for its high quality oysters which are grown in Merimbula Lake and Pambula Lake, and these are worth an indulgence whilst dining at the Lakeview Hotel. Check out the Lakeview Hotel website www.merimbulalakeview.com.au

Family-style fun can be experienced at the top end of Market Street at Top Fun. Activities include ten pin bowling, mini golf, zone 3 laser and video games. Birthdays are catered for and a fully stocked kiosk offers hot food, ice creams, hot and cold beverages. Check the Top Fun website for more details. http://www.topfun.com.au/index.htm

Merimbula - it's the Jewel Of The Sapphire Coast.

Darren Stones

Kite Surfer in Black & White via Adobe Photoshop

This photograph was originally taken in colour and was substantially larger than the one you see here.

Canon 20D 70-200mm f/4L

Some cropping and a conversion to black in white in Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 has led to what is a far stronger image with added impact.

Adjustments were also made to the contrast level and some dodging and burning was performed to the shot.

Manipulating and enhancing photographs is very popular with most digital photographers these days and it's a new skill I'm learning on a continual basis.

Darren Stones