Humpback whales migrate north into the South Pacific waters from their summer feeding grounds of New Zealand and the cool Antarctic Ocean. They arrive during the cool months of July to give birth to their calves and rest and return to their summer feeding grounds in October. A similar pattern exists in the north Pacific, departing Alaska and the Arctic Ocean and arriving in Hawaii in November and returning north in May. Humpback whales never cross the equator and are rarely found within 10^O North or South of the equator. Humpback whales were subject to intensive commercial exploitation in Antarctica and other austral waters in the 20th century, with 208,359 reportedly killed between 1904 and 1999. Whale Outreach is a non-profit organisation to help monitor and protect the south pacific humpback whales. It is based on Rarotonga in the Cook Island where an interpretive centre has been opened to help promote awareness of the whales.

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Tonga is the premier destination for whale watching and can be seen extensively in the deep water channels of the Vavau Group which is a common calving ground for humpback whales from July to October. Whales can be spotted from the coastlines, on charter boat and can their unusual singing can be heard for miles when snorkelling or scuba diving.
Tonga Whale Watching Guide


Hawaii is the main destination for north pacific humpback whales and calves and their mothers can always be spotted in the calm protected waters off West Maui from November to May. Here there are lots of charter boats adhering to strict regulations.
Hawaii Whale Watching Guide


The Cook Islands, in particular Rarotonga and Atiu, are in the path of the migrating humpback whales and an increasing number can be seen breaching at the reefs edge between July and October. In places, the reef is very close to shore making it easy to whale watch from the coast without causing disturbance.
Cook Islands Whale Watching Guide


Humpback whales also migrate through the French Polynesia, Samoa and Fiji but their infrequency means you will be extremely lucky to spot one.

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