Seasonal· Rurutu· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Rurutu Whale Season (Jul to Oct)
22° 28.5′ S · 151° 20.5′ W · approximate
Each southern winter, humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to breed and calve off Rurutu, from about July to October, and they are the island's biggest draw.
Practical
Coordinate is the island centre (Wikipedia). Wikipedia and fr.wikipedia: humpbacks breed offshore July-October. Tahiti Tourisme gives July-November for Rurutu and August-October for the Australs in general. Most visiting tourists come August-October by plane; Rurutu has family pensions, not hotels (Moana 2023). Cruisers report whales daily in October (Pitufa 2018) and still in January (Elma 2024). Winter also brings fronts every 7-10 days and nights around 17-18 °C in October, so pair whale season with a weather routing plan.
Best for
Planning your Austral visit around the whales
Season
Jul-Oct
Nearby
- Mt Pito Hike (Rurutu)0.5 NM away
- Avera Snack0.7 NM away
- Avera Bay Anchorage (Rurutu)0.9 NM away
- Ana Taupe'e Cave (Gueule du Monstre, Rurutu)1.1 NM away
- Avera Reef Snorkel and Dive Site (Rurutu)1.1 NM away
- Moerai Petrol Station and Car Rental1.2 NM away
- Peva Pass Dive (Rurutu)1.2 NM away
- Gendarmerie Moerai (Port of Entry, Rurutu)1.3 NM away