THE 2016 Port Stephens whale watching season officially kicked off on Saturday, May 21.
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However, the gentle giants were spotted cruising down ‘humpback highway’ a week early.
The first humpback whale in the 2016 migration was seen off the Port Stephens coast by Moonshadow-TQC Cruises on Friday, May 13.
About 18,000 whales pass the Port’s coastline on their 12,000km migration every year.
Humpback whales migrate north between May and August, travelling from its feeding grounds in Antarctica to the warmer tropical waters of the Pacific to breed.
The whales and calves then make the return journey south between August and November.
Last year was one of the best seasons on record, and the Port’s cruise companies are expecting the same this year.
Send your 2016 whale watch photos to the Examiner. Post them to the Examiner’s Facebook or via a message, email pictures to ewatts@fairfaxmedia.com.au, or use the hashtag #PortWhales2016 when posting photos to social media.