Seeing an enormous Southern Right Whale breaching just off the
coastline is a magical sight - and now visitors to the Great Ocean
Road won't miss a thing.
A new email alert system set up by Geelong Otway Tourism will
provide instant updates on whale sightings in the region so
everyone can have the chance to glimpse these magnificent
creatures.
By registering with the whale-spotting website, visitors and
locals alike will be alerted to whales seen swimming offshore, a
common sight from May to October all along the Great Ocean Road.
They can also report their own sightings to the site, sharing their
discoveries with others almost instantly.
Leon Walker, from Lorne Visitor Information Centre, was one of
the first to respond when a member of the public reported the first
sighting of the season this week - two whales playing just 200-300
metres off the Lorne Pier.
"I drove straight down and by this stage they were just off
Lorne Pier," he said. "It's pretty awesome to see, and it creates a
lot of excitement."
Migratory whales, including Southern Rights, Humpbacks and
Orcas, are often seen along the Great Ocean Road during the cooler
months, when mothers give birth to calves.
Mr Walker said the Great Ocean Road was a particularly good
platform for whale spotting because the elevation of the road and
the unobstructed views provided great visibility.
"But we do need to urge people to take care, follow the road
rules and not do U-turns or stop suddenly if they see a whale while
they are driving down the road," Mr Walker said.
To sign up for whale
alerts or post whale sightings visit:
www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/whale-sightings