By then the duo had already crossed the bridge and were making their way to Te Aramahaki's uncle's home.
"Dad must have believed me because he agreed to go back and have a look."
As they approached the seal that was lying on rocks beside the water, Te Aramahaki's dad filmed the excited youngster.
"We got up real close but the seal didn't really like us there and got a bit angry."
Not comfortable with their presence, the seal slipped back into the water.
Te Aramahaki's mum, Rangi Hemi, said she and her partner had spoken to a number of Ruatoki elders about the seal.
"They do recall a seal in Ruatoki but it was many, many decades ago," Ms Hemi said.
"The river had been in flood only a couple of days before the seal turned up so I guess that may have contributed to him getting all the way here."
The seal had a gash which has begun healing on its back.
Department of Conservation staff believe the male seal has followed whitebait up the river.
They have said it is not usual for seals to travel upstream, and believe it is the first time they have heard of one travelling inland to Ruatoki.
Staff think the seal has travelled further up the river past Waikirikiri. People have been urged not to approach it as it will eventually swim back out to sea.
Meanwhile, Te Aramahaki thinks it's cool so many people are interested in the seal video, although he's not too sure about that many people seeing him.