Photo: Dominic Parry
The mammals put on a display for the King, Robinson and Parry families, who were on a boat trip near Aramoana.
"It appeared to be a mother and a calf. The calf was playing around, breaching and slapping its tail against the water. It created quite a show and the children were thrilled," Dominic Parry said.
Humpback whales have become an increasingly familiar sight off the Otago coast in recent years.
This time last year, a humpback was seen in the entrance to Otago Harbour, and in April this year Otago Department of Conservation staff disentangled a whale after it had got caught up in fishing equipment.
