A chance encounter with two orcas in knee-deep water has been filmed, showing the marine creatures up close and personal.
The video, shared by Aston Johnstone on the Coastal News Facebook page yesterday, shows two orca gliding through shallow water at Whangamata's Otahu Estuary.
The person filming walks alongside the orcas, just a few metres away and children can be heard on the video saying they have never seen a killer whale before.
A mother can be heard pointing out the whales to her son and another can be heard saying: ''Look how close they are.''
''Oh that's beautiful,'' said another.