Turtle nesting and whale watching |
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Turtle nesting and whale watching spots on the West Pilbara Coast of Western Australia (WA) are the ideal place to observe these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. Many of the region's beaches and islands are protected, making it the ideal environment for migrating whales and breeding turtles. Turtle nestingThe beaches and islands of WA’s West Pilbara Coast are important turtle nesting sites for green, flatback, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles. Females come ashore between the months of September and April and lay up to 160 eggs, which hatch after eight to ten weeks. Never approach a turtle or its nest. Whale watchingEarly winter is the first opportunity to see migrating humpback whales on WA’s West Pilbara Coast, and you can join a whale watching tour from June to October. The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is the fifth largest of the great whales. Females can grow up to 19 metres, slightly longer than adult males, and a mature humpback can weigh 40 tonnes. The species has been protected from whaling in the southern hemisphere since 1963 and the population in WA now totals between 8,000 and 13,000. A great way to view these magnificent creatures during their annual migration along the West Pilbara Coast is to join one of the whale watching tours from Dampier and Point Samson. For more information about turtle nesting and whale watching tours on WA’s West Pilbara Coast, contact the local visitor centres. Some information presented in this website has been sourced, with permission, from the Shire of Roebourne website. |
Today's weather forecast
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Karratha Current ConditionsTemperature: 15.2°C
Dew Point: 10.0°C
Relative Humidity: 71%
Wind Speed: 11.1km/h
Wind Gusts: 13.0km/h
Wind Direction: S
Pressure: 1016.8hPa
Rain Since 9AM: 0.0mm
A turtle returning to the water after laying her eggs on the beach
See the whale migration every year along the West Pilbara Coast
Watch turtles nesting around Karratha and the West Pilbara Coast