16-07-2025
‘Inquisitive, relaxed' humpback whale swimming in Sydney Harbour delays ferries and boats
An 'inquisitive' humpback whale that wandered from its usual migratory route and into the centre of Sydney Harbour is causing 'navigational challenges' for ferries and vessels as its tour of the world-famous harbour continues.
The sub-adult whale was first spotted by commuters on a harbour ferry service near Fort Denison at about 8am. It swam to Circular Quay – Sydney's central ferry terminal - before moving east towards the defence base of Garden Island then to Watsons Bay and north to Balmoral Bay.
Speaking from a New South Wales Maritime boat shadowing the creature, whale expert Dr Vanessa Pirotta said it was 'not every day a whale takes a detour and hangs out in Watsons Bay'.
Its harbour trip was posing a 'navigational challenge' for ferries and vessels, she said.
'NSW Maritime and NSW National Parks and Wildlife are literally escorting a school bus-sized mammal out of the harbour. It's so easy for vessels to strike whales,' she said.
'They do things when you least expect it – [we're] making sure it has space and is escorted out of the harbour, because this one is very inquisitive.'
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While it's not unusual for a whale to briefly leave the 'humpback highway' running up and down Australia's east coast – four humpbacks have been seen in the harbour this migratory season, she said – it is 'crazy' for the creatures to be as inquisitive and explorative as the whale seen today.
'Most will hang out around Manly and then work out it's not in the right place and swim away, but this one is having the full harbour experience,' she said.
There is a whale and her calf in Circukar Quay! (She delayed my ferry)
'It's the most inquisitive whale. It's thin, but from its behaviour, it's very relaxed.'
In Balmoral Bay on Sydney's north shore, the whale was on Wednesday afternoon seen swimming close to a paddle boarder with onlookers watching from the beach.
'This whale continues to surprise me. It's just hanging out and in such shallow water – I'd expect this from a southern right whale, not a humpback whale.'
Pirotta said the whale's condition – which she described as 'OK' – suggested it was migrating south and that it might have entered the harbour overnight.
Pirotta said the Wild Sydney Harbour project had 'delivered' after commuters on the harbour first spotted the whale. One social media user said the whale had delayed their ferry on Wednesday morning.
She said the sighting was a chance to gather data and photos of the creature, adding that every time she watches whales, she learns 'so much more about them'.
