She’s a sexy humpback
Them other Bigs don’t know how to act
I think she’s special, what a large humpback!
Go visit Nala and don’t forget a snack
Have a whale of a time and a blowhole lot of fun with Nala, the 22-tonne pride of Hervey Bay! The town is one of the best places on Earth for whale watching, but now you don’t need to risk a bout of sea sickness to admire a massive mammal.
Nala was introduced to the communi-sea in 2012 to much finfare, with hundreds of whale-wishers blubbering with delight at her grand un-whaling. She’s a heartfelt tribute to her namesake, a much-loved whale who’s visited the region every year since 1992.
The big bopper has to be marine to be believed, and wouldn’t look out of place at the Louvre or Guggenheim museums – if she’d fit! Just look at those intricate wooden details and all that shiny metal! I almost felt like I should’ve worn a tuxedo for our date!
Ross Bradbury built the 11.5 metre-long, 8.3 metre-tall leviathan out of ironbark timber and stainless steel, and reckons he spent more than 250 hours on the carving alone. He’s also the virtuoso behind Nala’s son Nolan, a smaller whale who lives at the neighbouring WetSide Water Park.
“I feel really lucky to be a part of it,” Ross whaled to a bemused journo from the Courier Whale… oh, sorry, the Courier Mail.
Whales and Pelicans and Criminals… Oh My!
The Queen of the Fraser Coast is just one of many Big Things in the region, with fellow water-dwellers Pete the Pelican and the Big Shell to the south, boozy buddies the Big Rum Bottle and Darrel the Barrel to the north, and the legendary Matilda a short drive inland. The suave and handsome Big Ned Kelly – often rumoured to be a suitor of Nala – is shacked up at nearby Maryborough.
If you’re planning to get spout-and-about, the good news is you don’t have to pay to see Nala – that’s right, a visit is free, Willy!
Many thanks to local fisherman and lifelong Big Thing admirer Dickie Ham, who acted as my tour guide. He’s a perfect gentleman and quite the twinkle toes. Who would’ve though Hervey Bay would have such a vibrant salsa scene?
