During the wintertime in south-west Victoria, tourists flock to the known whale-viewing spots to watch southern right whales rear their young.
Numerous female whales journey from Antarctica each year and settle in sheltered bays along the south-west coast of Victoria.
On a crisp Sunday morning in Warrnambool, people were stopped in their tracks as three great southern right whales breached lazily along the water at Lady Bay.
Surfers Chrissie Duncan and Courtney Wines said they were delighted to share the water with the huge marine mammals, including a mother and calf.
"It's quite a humbling experience because you just realise how small you are, and you think, 'Wow, these are the biggest creatures on the planet, and you're really close to them,'" Ms Duncan said.
While the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning set an exclusion zone at Logan's Beach each year from June 1, surfing is still allowed as long as surfers stay 50 metres away from the whale.
"You definitely get a better idea of size [while surfing]," Ms Wines said.
"You can kind of appreciate how much mass is under the water that you're not seeing on top."
Whales have long brought people together and form a significant part of Keerray Woorroong Gunditjmara First Nations culture.
Years ago, when the Koontapool — as the Gunditjmara people call the southern right whale — embarked on their southward journey, traditional owners would gather and sing the whales in.
All these years on, the mammals still inspire awe.
