Whale Watching in Waipu – Bream Bay
Whale Watching in Bream Bay
It was the last day in July, I had already had a lovely walk with the dog on Uretiti Beach.  I arrived home and friends told me there was a whale in the Bay.
What to do – its a 10 minute drive, I had lots of work to do…¬† But how many times do you get to see a whale off shore – and a big one at that. I jumped into the car and headed down to Uretiti Camp Ground, the last place the whale had been sighted.
Word was it was the Southern Right Whale and her calf who have been of the east coast for a week or so.  I arrived to see it Рa hundred yards or so  off the beach Рthe only problem was a commercial fishing boat was almost on top of it, circling it, and the whale was clearly distressed.  It soon headed back out to sea, and the fishing boat got bored and left it alone.
I met two neat people down there Emma and Gavin who are experienced boat masters and Emma has done some work with dolphin watching boats.  It was great to share the time watching the whale.  Unfortunately it appeared that perhaps the calf was no longer alive Рwe did not see it swimming separately, it appeared the mother was carrying it.
