The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. Adults range in length from 14–17 m (46–56 ft) and weigh up to 40 tonnes. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and tubercles on its head. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making it popular with whale watchers. Males produce a complex song typically lasting 4 to 33 minutes.
Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 16,000 km each year. They feed in polar waters and migrate to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth. Their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish, and they use bubbles to catch prey. During the wintertime, they rely on their blubber storage for their energy. Orcas are the main natural predators of humpback whales.
Like other large whales, the humpback was a target for the whaling industry. Humans once hunted the species to the brink of extinction; its population fell to around 5,000 by the 1960s. Numbers have partially recovered to some 135,000 animals worldwide, while entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise pollution continue to affect the species.
Do not try to drive to the cache as the road is not gravelled to the end and there is very limited space for turning. Parking coordinates are given.
The final approach to the cache is a bit gnarly, hence the terrain rating.
Note: The letter values at the back of the logbooks in AQ6, AQ7, AQ8, AQ9, AQ10 give information on the whereabouts of the yet to be published bonus cache: AQ11 Aquatic Creatures - Stingray (Tasman) GCA85GC