Bottlenose dolphins frolicking in Otago Harbour yesterday attracted crowds along the West Harbour roads.
''It was a gorgeous morning. Nature at its best and a great way to start the day,'' Lee Hinds said after coming to a ''screeching stop'' to watch the dolphins on her way back to Dunedin from a weekend at Aramoana.
Dave Menzies said he had seen many dolphins while boating in the Coromandel and Milford.
''It's nice to see them in Otago Harbour. I've found in the past they seem to like to race over and play in the wake.''
Passengers and crew on the Monarch also saw the dolphins.
There appeared to be about 20 dolphins, crew member Chris Stephenson said.
Department of Conservation marine ranger Jim Fyfe said it was not unusual to see pods of bottlenose dolphins in the harbour, although it was slightly earlier than usual.
There had also been sightings of a pod of orca off the Otago coast and reports of humpback and minke whales off Taiaroa Head.
