Orca make rare visit to Lyttelton Harbour

A pod of seven Orca made a rare visit to Lyttelton Harbour this morning.

It is a rare event that only happens about once a year according to Black Cat Cruises Lyttelton Manager Paul Milligan

The Orca were spotted by those on board the Black Cat Cruises Black Diamond ferry as it made it trip across the harbour at 10am. After dropping off passengers the crew went out for an unscheduled trip between ferry crossings and followed the pod of Orca as the played off Purau Bay in Lyttelton Harbour.

“They were swimming around, diving, surfacing and possibly feeding – they looked amazing,” Milligan said.

He said having Orca in Lyttelton harbour was a “once in a year occurrence” and that staff were “very excited and stoked to see the impressive marine mammals.”

It was only the second time in six years working for Black Cat Cruises Milligan has seen Orca in Lyttelton Harbour.