Holiday fun with the ones that didn't get away

Andrea Hegan gets a close-up view of the orca from her paddleboard at Bon Accord Harbour on Kawau Island. Photo / Craig Hegan

A long weekend away turned out to be better than expected for one Auckland family who got up close and personal with orca whales near Kawau Island.

Andrea and Craig Hegan were on holiday with their two children, Alexandra, 7, and Will, 4, and Mrs Hegan's parents when four orca approached where they were anchored in Bon Accord Harbour.

The family, from Waitoki, watched excitedly as the orca came nearer. Mrs Hegan went out on her paddleboard to see how close she could get to them.

"I went across the bay thinking they would go around me, but then I saw one come straight towards me and right under my board. I just thought, 'Oh my God, they're right underneath'."

Mrs Hegan spotted four orca and at least two whales further out to sea. One looked "absolutely huge".

As she watched, the orca appeared to find her fascinating too, bobbing up and down in the sea and spraying water in her face.

Looking down at the orca beneath her, she saw them feeding on stingrays.

"The water was so clear. There were two orca and they were sharing the stingray. They had it in their mouths ...

"Then the little one was munching on the stingray and I could see bits falling off and floating in the water. The other orca was catching the bits and eating. It was such an exciting experience."

Mrs Hegan's husband and children got into a dinghy and joined her.

Alexandra had always wanted to see an orca and was thrilled when one swam right beside their vessel - blowing water into her face.

Mrs Hegan said: "I had always told her that she would have to see one in the wild as I would never take her to one that was in captivity.

"As she followed behind them in the dinghy, she was saying: 'Mum, my wish came true."'Vaimoana Tapaleao