Marine Life

Rare whale spotted off Sydney beach

Ferry passengers were treated to a rare sight this weekend when a juvenile minke whale swam alongside their vessel.

27/01/2025
Words by Nane Steinhoff
Photograph by Alain Rieder

A species primarily sighted around Antarctica made an unexpected visit to Sydney this weekend.

Ferry passengers spotted a rare juvenile Atlantic minke whale when it began swimming alongside their vessel.

“A beautiful minke whale was spotted near Bundeena Wharf today, giving passengers on the Cronulla Ferries an unforgettable experience,” shared Cronulla and National Park Ferry Cruises on Facebook on Monday. “These majestic creatures are such a special sight in the area, and we’re lucky to encounter such a close encounter with nature.”

Christine Hack, manager of Cronulla and National Park Ferry Cruises, told The Guardian that the rare whale began to follow the vessel, while her staff managed to capture footage of the individual as it followed the ferry in the wharf and back out again. She called the sighting “very rare”.

While dwarf minke whales are often seen off Sydney during their migrations from May to November, seeing Antarctic minke whales off the Sydney coastline is “very unusual”, told wildlife scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta of Macquarie University The Guardian.

While the species has a range from Antarctica to the north of Queensland, it most often is observed in cold Antarctic waters.

“I’ve never heard of an Antarctic minke whale here,” explained Pirotta. “It’s a species that we don’t generally see off Sydney, regardless of time of the year.”

Researchers are not sure why the individual came to the area but Pirotta thinks it might be “a case of mis-navigation”.

“The good thing is it looks in good condition, and it was observed going out to [sea], which is a good thing. If we’ll see it again, I’m not sure,” she added.

Any unusual wildlife sightings in the area should be shared with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Click here for more from the Oceanographic Newsroom.

Words by Nane Steinhoff
Photograph by Alain Rieder

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