When Frank Future launched his whale watching business in 1995 the number of whales passing by Port Stephens on the annual northern migration was in the hundreds.
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Today, an estimated 35,000 whales travel along the east coast enroute to the Great Barrier Reef.
"The juveniles have been coming through over the past few weeks and the adults are starting to arrive now," Mr Future, who owns Imagine Cruises said on Friday.
Whale numbers have been increasing over the past 25 years as the population slowly recovers from near extinction due to commercial whale hunting.
The anecdotal reports of increasing humpback whale numbers are backed by scientists.
They believe new drone videos showing more than 30 of the mammals gathering and blowing bubbles to help catch prey is evidence of the population's health.
One possible explanation for the phenomenon is the favorable environmental conditions - a combination of ideal water temperatures and nutrients which has resulted in an abundance of food.
This, in turn, has brought large numbers of whales to feed in the same area.
It is estimated the whale watching season is worth about $530 million to the Port Stephens economy.
Mr Future said the number of people keen to get up close to the whales has bounced back after the pandemic severely interrupted last year's season.
"Our numbers have been pretty steady. There's plenty of people coming up from Sydney," he said.
"Port Stephens is probably the most visited location outside of Sydney at the moment."
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Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
