Australia's surprise NZ visitor

New Zealand fur seals. Photo / Supplied

He was a harmless Kiwi with a big gut who was enjoying the Gold Coast sunshine before searching for a mate.

That's how Australian marine experts have described the surprise visit of a fur seal about 6km up the Tallebudgera Creek south of Brisbane.

Seaworld marine sciences director Trevor Long kept a close eye on the mammal, believed to be about age 2, before he disappeared this week, probably to cooler waters.

"It seemed to be in quite good nick, it isn't emaciated so it's still been able to feed." Long said he would not have been able to stay long as Queensland moved towards summer.

Long said every year a couple of New Zealand fur seals came ashore on the Gold Coast.