Whale chills out in Kapiti waters

CLOSE UP: A whale enjoying time in Kapiti waters. Photo by Campbell Thomson.

Campbell Thomson has had a whale of a time - literally.

Yesterday morning a whale was sighted a short distance from the Raumati South coastline.

Many people gathered to watch the whale, believed to be a Southern right whale, which was just over one kilometre out to sea, parallel with Kainui Rd.

Mr Thomson's daughter saw two bouys floating near the whale and it looked like the whale was dragging something possibly a fishing net.

"That's when I thought I'd shoot out there in the sea kayak and have a quick look and call the Department of Conservation if it was in trouble," Mr Thomson said.

"By the time I got out there the bouys had drifted further south and the whale went further out.

"As soon as I got to the whale, it just came up alongside and stuck its head out of the water and looked at me, and then did a full body roll and basically showed me the whole of its body, and then stayed with me for the next hour.

WOW: Up close and personal with a whale.

"I just sat around, paddle away a bit, and it would follow me, then it would come up and rub its back underneath my kayak.

"I kept thinking the tail would come up and flick but it never did.

"It just wanted to play.

"It was an absolutely amazing experience."

Mr Thomson, who has swum with whales in Niue and Tonga, said the whale was about seven metres long, looked in perfect condition, and wasn't entangled in anything.

A few days earlier Mr Thomson and family saw some orca pods in the same area but a lot closer in.

"They were in very close looking for stingrays or something."