TOURISTS could be in for a whale of a time with a Cairns tour boat operator offering dedicated whale watching tours. 

Reef Magic Cruises has announced plans to run the tours from its 22m fast catamaran, with two daily departures.

Pictures: Whales near Cairns

The tours are aimed at tapping into the demand to see the whales which frolic in the waters off Cairns for a few weeks each year.

Reef Magic managing director Tim North said he was happy to have seen the number of humpback whales off Cairns increase in the past 20 years.

He said there were almost 5000 whales a year migrating up the east coast each year, including humpback and minke varieties.

"During July and August, Reef Magic cruises has a spare vessel as our charter and cruise ship business tapers off,'' Mr North said.

"Because of constant requests from locals and tourists to go out and spend time with the whales we've created Whale Watching Tours Cairns.''

The humpback whales must really enjoy the Far Northern waters, as they travel all the way from Antarctica to get here.