Byron Bay Eco Charters, Whale Watching |
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It’s a sunny Saturday morning and I’m heading into the pretty little town of Brunswick Heads situated at the northern end of the Byron Shire. It’s like stepping back in time to the Byron Bay of thirty years ago. It’s a gorgeous day and I’m about to go Whale Watching with our Paul, with this new mob called Byron Bay Eco Charters. On this particular morn I’m not in a good mood at all, I worked really late the night before and I’ve only had four hours sleep, so I’m feeling tired unenthusiastic and a little grumpy as I head to the marina. But not for long, the crew at Byron Bay Eco Charters (BBEC) are about change the way I feel, and they’re going to win over the heart of this bloke in a real big way.
The first thing you notice when you pull up at the Fishermans co-op on the old Pacific Hwy in Brunswick heads is the bright red canopy of the 12.5m ‘Sensational’ a quad engine Naiad. This thing is one serious boat it’s got four electronically balanced motors to help keep it stable and more grunt than a pig farm. Ok, I say to myself, this is starting to look like more fun than I expected. The boat is shaded, low splash, fast and environmentally friendly as it uses very little fuel for the amount of power and torque it has. We excitedly embark, to find the crew professional courteous and considerate, which is quite a nice surprise in this day and age. Turning around I notice an old surfing buddy of mine at the helm, this bloke’s a pro fisherman and knows the tricky Brunswick Bar better than anyone I know, which was very reassuring. Then Sean the operator hands out the buoyancy vests, and runs us through the safety procedures. Soon after, we’re off. By the time we’re a hundred metres up the Brunswick River, I’m taking beautiful shots of those majestic pelicans you find in abundance around here. My grumpiness has disappeared, and my fatigue is lifting quickly. I can feel it deep inside; this is going to be something special.
We reach the bar, there’s a two metre easterly swell driving straight into it, as a surfer of forty years experience I know what we’re in for here. So we wait, I can see a few of the passengers getting fidgety they’re keen to go, but hey, I say let them wait, I know this place and the patience of the crew tells me we’re in good hands. Finally we get a lull between the sets. Woo Hoo we’re off, and my God does this boat move! Before you know it we’re across the bar and several hundred metres past the break. Now the show starts, it’s a guessing game out here, but it’s only a moment or two before we come across whales. We keep our distance, we wait, both expectantly and respectfully. One of the crew lowers a Hydrophone over the side; all of a sudden we can hear their whale song. Now this is getting almost surreal. When suddenly while I’ve got me lens pointed east, everyone faces west and gasps at once. A tremendous noise of rushing water fills the air as a Humpback decides to breach right next to boat, I swing my lens yet I can’t focus in time, but who cares, I saw it, and that’s why I’m here. The rest of the pod comes to join in, and they start to cruise around the boat. This really is something different, we’re not watching whales; the whales are watching us.
I could go on indefinitely, as this trip was such a delight for me and all whale watchers on board. But I’d just be repeating myself as so many of us do when we get excited and passionate about something. Suffice to say, the two hours went very quickly, too quickly in my opinion, as I could easily have stayed out and taken shots all day. But that wouldn’t be fair to the other folks waiting to go on the next run. So reluctantly we turned and headed back towards the Brunswick River. Just when we thought it was all over, we came across another pod of humpbacks on the way back in. It was almost as if they were wishing us farewell. Though I’d say it’s probably just the emotional ramblings of a bloke who’s had his eyes opened to the joys of Whale watching in Byron bay.
Smiling quietly to myself as we approach the shoreline I sit back in my seat and enjoy the sweeping vista of Byron bay as seen from this unique angle. Everyone around me has gone quiet; I look around from one to the next, it’s hard to concentrate, I’m here to work. I’ve chosen to review this service. I’m here to see how good it really is. But I can’t seem to concentrate on my work; I understand the silence of the passengers. It’s a sense of awe, contentment and serenity, how could I possibly not approve this, there is no way. It’s just too good; you’d be robbing yourself of something very special not to go whale watching with Byron Bay Eco Charters In Byron Bay Today.
Simple Pleasures Discount: Just quote the current IBBT Code to Receive %10 off your booking with Byron Bay Eco Charters.
Subscribers Freebees: Byron Bay Eco Charters, continue to offer our subscribers to chance to win a free whale and dolphin watching trip.
Contact Sean or Kate on:
Freecall 1300 humpback (within Australia), that's 1300 486 722.
Check the map for Byron Bay Eco Charters departure piont.
