Last of the season's whales put on a show - ABC Online

While the numbers are tapering off, there's still plenty of whale action in the area locals call "Humpback Highway".

Jill Emberson from 1233 ABC Newcastle Mornings was treated to scenes out of a wildlife documentary when she went on a whale-watching cruise this week, spotting not just a mother with her very playful calf, but another adult female as well.

Whale-watch cruise operator, Frank Future, explains that these extra females often play a protective and supportive "auntie" role, staying with the mother and calf from birth and also while they're travelling down the coast.

"At this time of year the mothers are bringing their newborn calves down the coast and there seems to be always a lot of action with these young animals," Frank says.

He explains the mothers seem to encourage the calves' playful behaviour as it builds muscle, and the babies have loads of energy as they're guzzling more than 300lt of milk a day!

The whales burn off lots of their fat reserves as they make the 10,000km round trip up and down the east coast.

"It's starting to taper off but every year there's more whales, it seems to extend the season on either end," Frank says.

With no whaling of humpbacks at present in the southern hemisphere, numbers are building.

"They've been breeding back both on the east and west coasts at about nine percent a year increase, so we're up to about 18,000 whales now on the east coast, it's fabulous," he says.

Frank estimates about 1500 calves have been travelling down with their mothers.

After a mild winter without big seas, he says whale-watching conditions have been tremendous, especially in the prime viewing spot of Port Stephens.

"They all travel very close along the coast at this point," Frank says.

"Port Stephens juts right out into the east Australian current, so it's a particularly good spot to see whales here."

Overseas visitors are especially thrilled to see whales at such close proximity, which makes it particularly surprising that less than 15% of Australians have seen whales in the wild, even though a real-life David Attenborough experience awaits right on our own doorstep.

And whales aren't the only wildlife to be seen in the Port Stephens Marine Park, with large pods of dolphins, fairy penguins, fur seals and sea turtles all putting in guest appearances.

You can hear Jill's interview with Frank Future here.