Western Australia – Day 6 – Whale Watching @ Augusta

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The first whale-watching experience I with our Ang Mo bud had was in Gloucester in 2010 – site also of the famous disaster fictionalized in the year 2000 George Clooney The Perfect Storm – and I had a second trip out a few weeks later but traveling out from Boston. It was the first trip from Glouscester though that left me with an incredible memory – that of whales breaching, though as the second Boston trip and now this one in Augusta showed, you’re more likely to see the whales just rolling lazily and diving than breaching.

Still, whale watching has long been one of the key highlights of our just over 11 day trip to Western Australia, on account that this would be the kids and Ling’s first such. And from all accounts, whale watching off Augusta won’t be anything like what Matt and I suffered: we spent 2 hours traveling out and searching in vain for these ocean-going fellows. And right when the boat pilot just above gave up to turn the boat around, we finally spotted a few who breached for us, making the entire trip worth it. Matt has a hilarious retelling  of it still here on our blog from 7 years ago. There are a few whale watching charters traveling out from Augusta, but as guests of the Margaret River Hideaway & Farmstay, we would get a small discount from one of these companies – so we went with Legend Charters.

The operator’s reporting-time was 10:15 AM, but we took a few more minutes trying to find the right place: do note – the start point is in Augusta Boat Harbor, which is several minutes away from Augusta town center itself. The boat can sit around 20, so we were nearly full at 19 persons: four Singaporean families, with a Aussie couple. We could have just as well sung Majula Singapura for in-boat entertainment LOL.

I’m not sure what kind of boats the other operators used, but the Legend Charters boat was luxurious for what we paid (about AUD225). The main seating was carpeted, had tables with comfortable and cushioned chairs, and the crew offered in-boat beverages and Lamington cakes. As reported on several reviewers and unlike the trips in Gloucester and Boston, it didn’t take long for us to spot whales in Augusta – just 15 minutes and right out of the harbor! And not just a pair, but several dozens across multiple sightings in the about two hours we spent out in the waters.

The waters were anything but perfect though: it was choppy, and possibly because the boat we were on was much smaller than the previous two I were on, it took an hour before I got nausea and was knocked out: and thus missed the best part of the trip: 4 whales swimming beside the boat. But Ling took a video of it that we’ll post up soon.

Many boats docked at Augusta Boat Harbor. The registration counter is where the main entrance past the boardwalk is, so you can’t miss it even though there’s no large sign that says “Legend Charters”.
Boarding the boat. There were three crew members: the pilot, his experienced helper, and an understudy who looked like he’s still in his teens!
The charter boat was luxurious and clean and new. Carpeted even. Coffee for mommy, Milo for the kids.
This Augusta Boat Harbor bird takes sentry duty very seriously.
Anything for fishing. These four fellows were perched on some rocks.
Though the weather was beautiful, the waters were anything. We could see exactly how choppy it was with another whale watching boat about 200 meters ahead of us looking like it was going to topple at spots.
Our kids first whale watching experience, and we saw dozens in close proximity. Most surfaced, flipped about etc. though none of them breached like what I saw several years back with whale watching @ Gloucester in New England.
As the guide explained, some of the whales were showing off – not to us but potential mates! Ling has a video of whales swimming beside the boat (didn’t get any photos of that by the second half I was down with nausea LOL).

All in – recommended and a must-see if you’re in the right month and the right area!