N’Joy Newcastle Whale Watching owner Bruce Hodgkinson said N’Joy’s crew and a lucky bunch of whale watchers were treated to a half-hour show by a mother and calf yesterday.

The pair performed a number of breaches, tail slaps and pectoral-fin waves just off Nobbys headland.

‘‘Both of them were performing,’’ he said. ‘‘I think it was mother teaching junior.’’

Mr Hodgkinson said July was a prime time for whale spotting, as the humpbacks migrated north and this year they were closer to shore than usual.

‘‘The cooler currents are closer in to shore and moving north so they are getting a free ride up on them,’’ he said.

Mr Hodgkinson said the breaching manoeuvre could be for communication with other whales or a way of cleaning their skin.