While the rest of the country turns inward during the cooler months, winter at Orpheus Island marks the beginning of a spectacular natural show. Set on the untouched stretch of the Great Barrier Reef, Orpheus Island offers a front-row seat to some of the reef’s most awe-inspiring marine encounters – from migrating humpback whales to graceful manta rays and elusive dugongs.
Between June and September, the Coral Sea becomes a vibrant passageway for humpback whales making their annual migration north. These gentle giants can often be spotted breaching and tail-slapping just offshore a breathtaking display of power and grace. Guests at Orpheus Island Lodge can observe them from the shoreline, during reef cruises, or even while kayaking and paddleboarding in calm waters.
Whales arrive at Orpheus Island
Is there anything quite like the thrill of spotting a whale spout in the distance or seeing a breach right before your eyes? The answer is no. Humpback whales hang out near Orpheus Island during their winter months as they migrate north from Antarctica seeking warmer waters from June through to September.
Don’t miss the dugongs
Year round, dugongs like to hang out in the shallow seagrass around Hinchinbrook Island. Hop on a bespoke charter out to the island and keep your eyes peeled for these beasts. They can weigh in at 400 kilograms and be as long as three metres but it’s still a rare, special moment when you see one in the wild.
Humpback whales hanging out during their winter months
Meet a manta ray
Mantas are the largest rays in the world and you’ll find them off Orpheus Island Lodge from May through to August. They are around year-round, but this is when there’ll be larger numbers out and about. Unlike their cousins the sting ray, manta rays have no barb, so you can swim or snorkel with ease, though it’s important to still respect the personal boundaries of these undersea beauties.
Swim with sea turtles
Snorkelling alongside a sea turtle is a rite of passage, or it should be. You’ll find them year-round off Orpheus Island, but it’s later in the year, from November through to January, when the female turtles come out of the water to lay their eggs on sandy shores.