{"brandSlug":"","componentsResourceTypes":["teq/components/editorial/editorial-hero-banner","teq/components/image","teq/components/corp/card-carousel","teq/components/editorial/editorial-description","wcm/foundation/components/responsivegrid","teq/components/spacer","nt:unstructured","teq/components/corp/navigation/header-menu","teq/components/navigation/footer-menu","teq/components/corporate-page","teq/components/editorial/editorial-card-carousel"],"htmlPageItems":[],"templateName":"news-page-corp","designPath":"/libs/settings/wcm/designs/default","cssClassNames":"corporate-page page basicpage","lastModifiedDate":1698281077997,"language":"en","title":"Get To Know Peter Lynch, Blue Dolphin Marine Tours",":items":{"root":{"columnClassNames":{"header_menu_copy":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","footer_menu":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","responsivegrid":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12"},"gridClassNames":"aem-Grid aem-Grid--12 aem-Grid--default--12","columnCount":12,":items":{"header_menu_copy":{"variation":"white","teqLogo":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/logos/corp_dark teal.svg","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"teqLogoWhite":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/logos/corp_white.svg","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"searchResultsPage":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media","backText":"Back","cancelText":"Cancel","suggestedText":"Suggested","popularSearchesText":"Popular Searches","searchForText":"Search for","menuItems":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry","target":"_self"},"title":"Industry","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"title":"Who We Are","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are","target":""},"title":"Who we are","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/careers","target":""},"title":"Careers","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/contact-us","target":""},"title":"Contact us","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/annual-reports","target":""},"title":"Annual report","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/strategic-plans","target":""},"title":"Strategic plans","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/corporate-governance","target":""},"title":"Corporate governance","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/portfolio-partners","target":""},"title":"Portfolio partners","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"What We Do","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/marketing","target":""},"title":"Marketing","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/queensland-events","target":""},"title":"Events","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/experience-development","target":""},"title":"Experience Development","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/cruise_indigenous_nature_tourism","target":""},"title":"Sector Development","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/stakeholder-engagement","target":""},"title":"Stakeholder engagement","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Industry Resources","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources","target":""},"title":"Industry resources","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/best-of-queensland-experience-program","target":""},"title":"Best of Queensland Experiences Program","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/international-resources","target":""},"title":"International resources","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/marketing-and-social-media","target":""},"title":"Marketing and social media","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/sustainable-tourism","target":""},"title":"Sustainable Tourism","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/cruise_indigenous_nature_tourism/accessible-tourism","target":""},"title":"Accessible Tourism","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/great-barrier-reef-resources","target":""},"title":"Great Barrier Reef resources","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Research & Insights","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/research-and-insights","target":""},"title":"All TEQ research & insights","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/research-and-insights/consumer-insights","target":""},"title":"Consumer insights","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/research-and-insights/industry-performance","target":""},"title":"Industry performance","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/research-and-insights/special-reports","target":""},"title":"Special reports","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/research-and-insights/tourism-data-explorer","target":""},"title":"Tourism data explorer","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Travel alerts & crisis ","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/crisis-management/advice-for-travellers","target":""},"title":"Advice for travellers","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/crisis-management/recovery-resources","target":""},"title":"Resources for businesses","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Partner with TEQ","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/partner-with-teq","target":""},"title":"Partner with TEQ","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/partner-with-teq/about-imate","target":""},"title":"About IMATE","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/partner-with-teq/about-atdw","target":""},"title":"About ATDW","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]}]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade","target":"_self"},"title":"Trade","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"title":"Place to see","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see","target":""},"title":"All places to see","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-brisbane","target":""},"title":"Visit Brisbane","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-bundaberg","target":""},"title":"Visit Bundaberg","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-cairns-and-great-barrier-reef","target":""},"title":"Visit Cairns and Great Barrier Reef","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-capricorn","target":""},"title":"Visit Capricorn","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-fraser-coast","target":""},"title":"Visit Fraser Coast","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-gladstone","target":""},"title":"Visit Gladstone","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-gold-coast","target":""},"title":"Visit Gold Coast","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-mackay","target":""},"title":"Visit Mackay","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-outback-queensland","target":""},"title":"Visit Outback Queensland","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-southern-queensland-country","target":""},"title":"Visit Queensland Country","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-sunshine-coast","target":""},"title":"Visit Sunshine Coast","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-townsville","target":""},"title":"Visit Townsville","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-the-whitsundays","target":""},"title":"Visit The Whitsundays","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Experiences","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/queensland-experiences","target":""},"title":"All Queensland experiences","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/queensland-experiences/queensland-adventure-and-discovery","target":""},"title":"Queensland adventure & discovery","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/queensland-experiences/lifestyle-people-and-culture","target":""},"title":"Lifestyle people & culture","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/queensland-experiences/queensland-nature-and-wildlife","target":""},"title":"Queensland nature & wildlife","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/queensland-experiences/queensland-reefs-islands-and-beaches","target":""},"title":"Queensland reefs, islands & beaches","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Itineraries","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries","target":""},"title":"All Queensland Itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries/3-day-queensland-itineraries","target":""},"title":"3-day Queensland itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries/5-day-queensland-itineraries","target":""},"title":"5-day Queensland itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries/7-day-queensland-itineraries","target":""},"title":"7-day Queensland itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries/destination-itineraries","target":""},"title":"Destination itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries/experience-itineraries","target":""},"title":"Experience Itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Trade tools & resources","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/trade-tools-and-resources","target":""},"title":"All trade tools & resources","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/trade-tools-and-resources/sales-tools","target":""},"title":"Sales tools","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/trade-tools-and-resources/travel-information","target":""},"title":"Travel information","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/trade-and-industry-events","target":""},"title":"Trade & industry events","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/marketing/current-opportunities/international-trade-missions","target":""},"title":"International Trade Events","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media","target":"_self"},"title":"News and Media","hasChildren":false,"isActive":true,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"title":"Media resources","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources","target":""},"title":"All media resources","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/story-ideas","target":""},"title":"Story ideas","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/fact-sheets","target":""},"title":"Fact sheets","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/character-profiles","target":""},"title":"Character profiles","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/press-releases","target":""},"title":"Press releases","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/content-creators","target":""},"title":"Meet our creators","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/queensland-news","target":""},"title":"Corporate News","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]}],"popularSearchTerms":["Great Barrier Reef","Annual Reports","Strategies","News"],"bookmarksLink":{"href":null,"target":null,"title":""},":type":"teq/components/corp/navigation/header-menu"},"responsivegrid":{"columnClassNames":{"image":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none aem-GridColumn--phone--12 aem-GridColumn--offset--phone--0 aem-GridColumn--phone--none","spacer_751194891":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","editorial_descriptio_193036946":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none","editorial_descriptio_98036970":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none","card_carousel_copy_c_1252135938":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","spacer_1049277409":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","spacer_751194891_cop":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","editorial_descriptio_2031533308":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none","spacer_1158327102":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","editorial_descriptio_1413551756":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none","editorial_hero_banne":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--10 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--1 aem-GridColumn--default--none aem-GridColumn--phone--12 aem-GridColumn--offset--phone--0 aem-GridColumn--phone--none","editorial_descriptio_882850864":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none","spacer_832182342":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","spacer_1908460995":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","editorial_descriptio":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none","spacer_1558440557":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","spacer":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","image_1210964679":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none","spacer_354775761":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","editorial_descriptio_2123570300":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none","editorial_card_carou":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12"},"gridClassNames":"aem-Grid aem-Grid--12 aem-Grid--default--12 aem-Grid--phone--12","columnCount":12,":items":{"spacer_1908460995":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"medium",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"editorial_hero_banne":{"title":"Get To Know Peter Lynch, Blue Dolphin Marine Tours","layoutVariation":"standardWidth","tag":{"colour":"#365ABD","text":"Characters"},"breadcrumbItems":[],"gallery":{"mediaCollection":[{"mediaType":"image","mediaProps":{"fileFormat":"","sku":"","src":"/content/dam/teq/corporate/images/news-and-media/character-profiles/Peter Lynch from Blue Dolphin Tours.JPG","alt":"A traveller is taking a photo from a boat of a whale that has its head sticking out of the water.","title":"A traveller is taking a photo from a boat of a whale that has its head sticking out of the water.","link":null,"mobileSrc":"","attribution":null,"quality":60},"mediaPropsSlide":null}]},":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-hero-banner"},"spacer":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"xxsmall",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"editorial_descriptio_193036946":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EEach day, Blue Dolphin Marine Tours skipper Pete Lynch packs his lunch and leaves for the office. It’s a workplace hemmed in by the gem-toned waters of Hervey Bay and the wild beauty of World Heritage-listed K'gari (formerly Fraser Island).\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOn a good day, he’ll skim the glassy surface of Platypus Bay in his catamaran with humpback whales for company and the tang of their fishy morning breath in his nostrils. On a great day, he’ll get mugged by them. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ENo one day is like the other, and that’s what keeps this veteran skipper coming back year after year – 25 and counting.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFor Lynch and the dozen or so other whale watching operators that ply the Fraser Coast, 2020 was the curtain raiser to a big future. It marked the premiere season since the World Cetacean Alliance declared Hervey Bay, alongside The Bluff in South Africa, the world’s first Whale Heritage Sites, awarded in recognition of outstanding practices that support whale and dolphin protection. It’s a bragging right hotly contested by five other global locations, and something that ought to be shouted from the rooftops. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"spacer_1049277409":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"xxsmall",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"image":{"componentName":"teq/components/image","src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/fraser-coast/web-images/2017_Fraser_Coast_Whale_Watching_Marine_Life_Encounters_Tracy_Farr.jpg","fileReference":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/fraser-coast/web-images/2017_Fraser_Coast_Whale_Watching_Marine_Life_Encounters_Tracy_Farr.jpg","alt":"A visitor is leaning over the side of a boat and is looking down at a very close by whale.","srcUriTemplate":"/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/character-profiles/meet-peter-lynch-of-blue-dolphin-marine-tours/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/image.coreimg{.width}.jpeg/1697177430101/2017-fraser-coast-whale-watching-marine-life-encounters-tracy-farr.jpeg","uuid":"f7a9693f-c3f2-42f2-b8a1-6e0b56414360","lazyEnabled":false,"title":"Whale Watching, Hervey Bay, Queensland",":type":"teq/components/image"},"spacer_354775761":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"xxsmall",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"editorial_descriptio":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EAs the only genuine stopover on the southern migration, Hervey Bay delivers astonishing whale interactions. It's here that around one-third of the 30,000 humpback whales heading to the nutrient-rich waters of Antarctica take a right-hand turn at K'gari to rest.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn these calm waters, visitors see the playful side of holidaying whales rather than the business side of the migration cycle.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E“We have a beautiful, sheltered and protected bay beside a World Heritage-listed island,” says Lynch, who led a council-funded mission to Durban in 2017 to champion the region’s attributes.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E“It’s two wonders in one place – the wonder of K'gari and the wonder of humpback whales that come back year after year. Our humpbacks are more relaxed and curious in these waters. And, when they mug our boats, it’s obviously the whale’s choice to be here.”\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ELynch says there’s a fairy tale quality to the growing number of whales to the bay.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E“Here’s an animal that was hunted to almost extinction: commercial whaling boomed in Australia in the late 18\u003Csup\u003Eth\u003C/sup\u003E Century, slowed in the 1930s when whale number dropped dramatically and laws were passed to prevent overexploitation, and ceased in 1979. Yet, despite this, they come back and mill around the boat and look at it – I mean really look at it, and at us,” says Lynch.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E“You are so close, you smell krill-y breath. And when you get an eyeball from a whale, it’s not a blank eye; there’s soul, there’s life, there’s experience. It’s not a mindless glance, it’s a real look.”\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"spacer_1158327102":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"xxsmall",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"image_1210964679":{"componentName":"teq/components/image","src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/all-queensland/blog-images/editorial-hero-banner/2020_QLD_Whales_WhaleWatching_WildlifeExperiences.jpeg","fileReference":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/all-queensland/blog-images/editorial-hero-banner/2020_QLD_Whales_WhaleWatching_WildlifeExperiences.jpeg","alt":"Two travellers on a boat are taking pictures of a whale who has its tail sticking out of the water.","srcUriTemplate":"/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/character-profiles/meet-peter-lynch-of-blue-dolphin-marine-tours/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/image_1210964679.coreimg{.width}.jpeg/1698281077986/2020-qld-whales-whalewatching-wildlifeexperiences.jpeg","uuid":"ec18451e-871f-4135-84a6-c37f132ad5a8","lazyEnabled":false,"title":"Whale Watching, Hervey Bay, Queensland",":type":"teq/components/image"},"spacer_751194891_cop":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"xxsmall",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"editorial_descriptio_2031533308":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EQuestions and answers: Five more fishy minutes with Peter Lynch\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"editorial_descriptio_98036970":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIn a town that’s mad for whales, why name your boat \u003Ci\u003EBlue Dolphin\u003C/i\u003E?\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EUnlike some of the bigger boats, when a 12m humpback comes up alongside our 11.6m\u003Ci\u003E Blue Dolphin\u003C/i\u003E, you really know it’s a whale! \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFunnily enough, the name came from a series of coincidences.  On my very first trip to America as a 21-year-old, I bought a branded shirt from a surf shop called the \u003Ci\u003EBlue Dolphin\u003C/i\u003E. It quickly became a favourite of mine.  Fast forward seven years and I was back in Australia and looking to buy my very first boat.  We found it in Townsville and, coincidentally, it was the same name as my favourite shirt.  During those days we wanted to do dolphin tours and sunset sails, so it was a perfect fit in more ways than one.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESince those times we’ve had three identical vessels – all named the \u003Ci\u003EBlue Dolphin\u003C/i\u003E – and expanded our business to run humpback and marine tours.  Oh, and I still have the original Blue Dolphin shirt today and it still fits!\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"editorial_descriptio_2123570300":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EYou can whale watch up and down the east coast - why Hervey Bay?\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThat’s the 64-thousand-dollar question!  I say to people that, on any given day, the weather conditions are better than the east coast of Australia and the whale activity is better. We have a beautiful, sheltered and protected bay, beside a World Heritage-listed island.  It’s two wonders in one place - the wonder of K'gari and the wonder of humpback whales that come back year after year.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOur humpbacks are not migrating. They’re more relaxed and curious in these waters. And, when they mug our boats, it’s obviously the whale’s choice to be here.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThose that work here or have whale watched in Hervey Bay and have been elsewhere – they know the difference and that keeps them coming back.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"editorial_descriptio_882850864":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBest spot on Fraser Coast for landlubbers to watch whales?\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can’t go past Indian Heads and 75-Mile Beach on K'gari. In fact, there were so many whales this past July that you could see them easily from the four wheel drive buses on K'gari's eastern beach. Air Fraser owner-pilot Gerry Geltch was even guaranteeing whale sightings, which he’s never done in 30-odd years of flying.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOf course, it doesn’t compare to on the water in Hervey Bay - you won’t get mugged by a whale and you’re not going to smell their krilly breath on land.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"editorial_descriptio_1413551756":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMost treasured memory? \u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI was whale watching back in 2010 when a young female took a shine to the boat and stayed with us for three hours. She was the first humpback of the day and she swam over to us and that was as far as she got.  For 3 hours and 10 minutes she never left us.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you sat on the back step, she’d try and touch your feet.  When a nearby male started singing she positioned herself in the tunnel of the boat and bounced the hydrophone off her back in response and the whole boat reverberated.  She then rose slowly and let out the biggest breath which landed on us all. Everyone squealed, so she did it again.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EShe was around the boat. Under the boat. In the tunnel of the boat.  After three hours, she swam slightly away and we had to run to escape her. She spun on a dime and chased us for a nautical mile in our wake. We didn’t stop. We only saw one humpback that day, but what an encounter.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBlue Dolphin\u003C/i\u003E tours run daily during the season. For more information visit: \u003Ca href=\"http://www.visitfrasercoast.com/whales\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp://www.visitfrasercoast.com/whales\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E/Ends\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWord Count: 1,100\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAuthor: Tourism and Events Queensland \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EUp to date as at: 5 May 2021\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis Character Profile is supplied courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland. For more images, please visit \u003Ca href=\"https://visuals.queensland.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.visuals.queensland.com\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"spacer_751194891":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"xxsmall",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"spacer_1558440557":{"spacerType":"line","paddingSize":"medium",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"card_carousel_copy_c_1252135938":{"title":"Discover more character profiles","type":"page","componentID":"card-carousel_725153276","cardCount":20,"classification":"/content/dam/teq/content-fragments/public-classifications/corporate/news-and-media/character-profiles","width":"12 column","cta":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/character-profiles","label":"Select to see more","target":"_self"},":type":"teq/components/corp/card-carousel"},"editorial_card_carou":{"maxNumber":20,"region":"","town":"","title":"Looking for more character stories? ","componentID":"editorial-card-carousel_606028676","areaName":[],"notch":false,"goodToGo":{"src":"","alt":"","link":null,"quality":0.0},"publicClassificationPathKey":"character-profiles","stamp":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/logos/BOQE-2026-Stamp_Teal.png","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"button":{"label":"View More","target":null},":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-card-carousel"},"spacer_832182342":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"medium",":type":"teq/components/spacer"}},":itemsOrder":["spacer_1908460995","editorial_hero_banne","spacer","editorial_descriptio_193036946","spacer_1049277409","image","spacer_354775761","editorial_descriptio","spacer_1158327102","image_1210964679","spacer_751194891_cop","editorial_descriptio_2031533308","editorial_descriptio_98036970","editorial_descriptio_2123570300","editorial_descriptio_882850864","editorial_descriptio_1413551756","spacer_751194891","spacer_1558440557","card_carousel_copy_c_1252135938","editorial_card_carou","spacer_832182342"],":type":"wcm/foundation/components/responsivegrid"},"footer_menu":{"acknowledge":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETourism and Events Queensland acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country and we recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respect to Elders past and present, and we value and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in all that we do.\u003C/i\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","teqLogo":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/logos/corp_white.svg","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"richText":true,"menuItemsOne":[{"title":"Contact us","link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/contact-us","target":"_self"}},{"title":"Disclaimer and privacy","link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/corporate-governance/disclaimer-and-privacy","target":"_self"}},{"title":"Right to information","link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/corporate-governance/right-to-information","target":"_self"}},{"title":"Annual reports","link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/annual-reports","target":"_self"}}],"menuItemsTwo":[{"title":"Need a holiday? Go to Queensland.com","link":{"href":"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/home","target":"_blank"}},{"title":"Visitor information centre portal","link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/visitor-information-centre-portal","target":"_blank"}},{"title":"ATDW online login","link":{"href":"http://www.atdw-online.com.au/","target":"_blank"}}],"socialItems":[{"link":{"href":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCecKHzBnmZVm23JDW7jaH2g","target":"_blank"},"icon":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/footer-logos/icon-youtube.svg","alt":"Youtube Queensland","link":null,"quality":0.0}},{"link":{"href":"https://www.linkedin.com/company/23580/","target":"_blank"},"icon":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/footer-logos/icon-linkedin51.png","alt":"Linkedin Tourism and Events Queensland","link":null,"quality":0.0}}],"qldGovLogo":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/footer-logos/logo-queensland-gov.png","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"copyright":"Tourism & Events Queensland ©",":type":"teq/components/navigation/footer-menu"}},":itemsOrder":["header_menu_copy","responsivegrid","footer_menu"],":type":"wcm/foundation/components/responsivegrid"}},":itemsOrder":["root"],":path":"/content/corp/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/character-profiles/meet-peter-lynch-of-blue-dolphin-marine-tours",":hierarchyType":"page",":type":"teq/components/corporate-page"}