THIS June long weekend Whale Song Augusta returns as the southern right and humpback whales are welcomed back to Flinders Bay.
The main event takes place on Sunday, June 3 under the marquee next to the Augusta Bakery.
Entertainment will include live music, hula hooping, face painting and a bouncy castle.
Don’t miss Deb “Spoons” Perry - percussionist, spoons player and finalist on Australia’s Got Talent.
There will be market stalls for craft and gourmet local produce, a touch pool and marine photographic and information displays.
The cars from the On the Road Again Bash will also make an appearance.
Additional whale watching charters will be in operation all weekend.
In 2011, the success rate of seeing whales on a tour off Augusta was above 90 per cent.
Other weekend activities will include extra tours at Jewel Cave and Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
The event is a collaboration between the Augusta Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association.
The festival celebrates the start of the whale season in Augusta which runs from June to September, and then moves to Dunsborough from September to December.
For information visit www.margaretriver.com and contact the Augusta Visitor Centre on 9758 0166.
Watching whales
Winter is the perfect time of year to visit Augusta - the whales are back in the bay and there are plenty of exciting things to do while you explore their spectacular aquatic playground.
Each year thousands of whales travel from the icy waters of the Antarctic to play and breed in the warm waters and sheltered bays. Flinders Bay in Augusta provides a safe haven for southern right and humpback whales to bear their calves - mothers and their babies can be spotted frolicking in the tranquil waters of the bay.
Whale-watching charters kick off this weekend, with All Sea, Legend and Naturaliste Charters running twice daily tours in Augusta until September. Worried you might not spot a whale? Rest assured, the success rate of seeing whales in Augusta is better than 90 per cent.
On the annual census day last year Augusta recorded the highest number of migrating whales around Australia - making it one of the nation’s premier whale-watching destinations.
For those who don’t feel like exercising their sea legs, Cape Leeuwin is the perfect vantage point for land-based whale watching. Spot one of these majestic mammals from the top of the lighthouse or look out to sea through the free binoculars.
For more information, see www.margaretriver.com or contact the Augusta Visitor Centre, 9758 0166.
