Whales helping to boost tourism on the NSW South Coast

The annual spring whale migration along Australia's east coast is helping to boost tourism in the Eurobodalla, with social media is helping spread the message.

Eurobodalla Shire General Manager, Paul Anderson, says that the council has developed a digital promotional campaign to entice visitors from the Canberra region to Eurobodalla to watch the whales as they make their return journey along the Pacific Ocean 'highway' with their babies in tow.

Spring is the best time for locals and visitors to view a whale in its natural environment and take advantage of the numerous whale watching hotspots and tours between Batemans Bay and Narooma.

Anderson explained "as part of our 2012 campaign we are encouraging locals to get involved by reporting whale sightings in the waters between Durras and Mystery Bay and around historic Montague Island. Everyone can help us attract visitors by posting photos on Eurobodalla's tourism Facebook page or on Twitter.

"In Eurobodalla, we are lucky to be able to get up close on a whale-watching boat tour or just relax on land and spot the whales and their young breaching and playing in the water.

"Whale numbers, particularly humpbacks, have continued to rise each year, which means that there's more chance than ever to spot them this spring. Over 30 sightings have been reported online over the last few weeks of the campaign.

"This is an important time for our local tourism industry so I have been encouraging everyone to take out their binoculars, cameras and smart phones to view and capture images of these beautiful creatures. In this way, all our friends and relatives can see the whale watching experiences that Eurobodalla provides."

Those wanting report a sighting and post a photograph should go to the Eurobodalla tourism Facebook page at www.facebook.com/eurobodalla