It's about an unforgettable football player and his close encounter with humpback whale. More than a million people have experienced humpback whale watching at Queensland's Hervey Bay, but now visitors have the chance to come eye-to-eye with these majestic and curious mammals by swimming with them in what's been dubbed Whale Watching 2.0. Visiting Hervey Bay, regarded by many as the whale watching capital of the world, as part of his Harry Kewell Academy Masterclasses, Kewell, has leapt at the chance to swim with these gentle giants. The legend of the football field was like every other passenger on board the Quick Cat II, left in awe of the massive creatures. "This is one of the things I've been told is an amazing thing to do, to come out and see the whales," says Kewell. "Obviously I've watched a lot of documentaries about them but to see them up close and personal is fantastic and we've been treated to a great show today. We've seen loads of them I've been in the water a few times to see them. It's been absolutely amazing." Kewell, a former Socceroo, played in two World Cups, and took the field for Leeds United, Liverpool, and Galatasaray before returning home to Australia to play for the Melbourne Heart. Voted by fans, players and journalists as Australia's best ever footballer, Kewell retired in April this year. Now Harry wants to give back to grassroots football in Australia through masterclasses in regional towns as well as opening an academy in Melbourne in 2015, offering children the same opportunities he was given as a young player. "I've come up here to give the kids a taste of what it's like to become a footballer and to give them a bit of an insight," he says. The tour gives Kewell the chance to visit spectacular destinations such as Hervey Bay. After today's experience there's little doubt he'll be back. "This is something that is amazing," he says. "It's nature at its best and it's just a shame my kids aren't here to see it, but it gives me an opportunity to come back to Hervey Bay and take them out to actually see this again." Kewell's score in the 2006 World Cup might have been an unforgettable moment, but coming face to face with a 40,000 kilogram, 16 metre humpback whale is something Harry is unlikely to forget. The whales dictate the experience. Visitors enter the water, and it's up to the inquisitive creatures to approach the swimmers. Kewell shared the experience with a number of international and local tourists, including Elena from Germany and Dutch tourist Giel. "I was a little nervous before but when I was in the water it was just amazing fantastic," says Elena. "When you see them up close they are really impressive to see," says Giel from the Netherlands. From July to October each year humpback whales stop to rest and play in the protected waters off Hervey Bay on their migration south to Antarctica with their newborn calves. This immersive tour can be experienced on both the Fraser Coast and Sunshine Coast. euronews discover is a window into the diversity of life around the globe, bringing you reports about nature, animals, travel and amazing events - every video is a destination. Where next? Subscribe to get our latest videos: http://bit.ly/R8LUvB Made by euronews, the most watched news channel in Europe.

• published: 29 Sep 2014
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