The seal on its perch on Auckland's waterfront. Photo / Frank Schoene
An ordinary Sunday walk turned into a wildlife show for one Auckland family who chanced upon a sunbathing seal today.
Frank Schoene and his family were walking to return a library book and decided to extend their stroll to St Heliers beach due to the sunny weather.
As they walked to the eastern edge of the beach close near Cliff Rd, they spotted the marine mammal.
"My wife said 'for sure the mother is out for getting some food'," Mr Schoene said.
"I thought, how cool if you can enjoy life sunbathing and swimming. We stayed there some 20 minutes but no other people appeared. We left while the seal was still playing in the water."
A spate of seal spottings have excited Aucklanders over the last couple of months.
On June 5, a seal was spotted in a residential area of Wattle Downs, Manurewa. It was returned to its natural habitat by the Department of Conservation (DoC).
Days earlier, a large seal pup was seen wandering near the local Pak'n Save in Manurewa before DoC staff repatriated it to the Awhitu Peninsula.
An adult seal was in the area the week before, spotted on several streets by residents before it was apprehended at a Papakura car wash.
A couple of days later a baby seal later showed up at Ray Small Park.
On July 3, another seal pup captured the attention of visitors to the Auckland Viaduct.
New Zealand Herald reader Kate Foxall sent through photos after she spotted the seal at the Fullers Ferry terminal.
"I was walking along Quay St from the train and saw people gathered around it. The seal was confused at all the people trying to take selfies with it."
Motorists are advised to take care around the area.