Whale swims near surfers in Sydney

You might say these lucky surfers were having a whale of a time as they frolicked at Freshwater on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

The Nine News helicopter captured the moment the group were joined by a large southern right whale on Sunday.

The whale was first spotted early this morning and then seen hovering beneath the clear-blue water inching ever closer to the group.

Freshwater resident Ian Hansen told Fairfax he spotted the whale because it was ringed by surfers.

"To be honest they were harassing it a bit. They were so close and it had no room to move," said Mr Hansen.

Swimmers are required to stay at least 30 metres from whales, while surfers and boats need to stay at least 100 metres away.

Source: Nine News

Author: Natasha Lee, Approving editor: Jack Hawke