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Whales are making their way from their summer feeding grounds in the icy Antarctic Southern Ocean to the warmer waters off Northern Queensland.

The annual migration has already begun with several reports of the huge marine mammals off the coast of NSW and South East Queensland.

Trevor Long, Director of Marine Sciences at Sea World, says there will be more whales than the estimated 19,000 seen last year.

Long explained "we've seen an increasing population now since whaling declined in 1962.

"It seems to be averaging anywhere between 8 and 11%."

The whales make their way to the warmer waters to mate and give birth.

The northern migration will continue until late July, after which the whales will return to the Southern Ocean until the end of the season in October.

Increasingly popular whale watching tours in NSW and South East Queensland have also commenced their seasonal operations over recent weeks.

1st June 2015 - GOLD COAST WHALE WATCHING VENTURE CELEBRATES A DECADE OF OPERATIONS

29th May 2015 - SEA WORLD WHALE WATCH LAUNCHES 2015 SEASON

1st April 2015 - SUNREEF MOOLOOLABA GETS SET FOR 2015 SWIMMING WITH WHALES SEASON

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