Close encounter with orcas captured on video

A Dunedin man who kayaked within metres of a small pod of orca whales says the experience almost left him in tears.

Royal Albatross Centre operations manager Chris McCormack says he was paddling back as the fog rolled in on Saturday afternoon when he saw the pod of three whales in Otago Harbour just off Taiaroa Head.

"I had two fur seals swimming towards me in a hurry and then just behind that there was the three orcas," Mr McCormack said.

The experience left him shaking with excitement.

"I was nearly in tears to be honest.

"I was over the moon about it," he said.

He had enough time to quickly get his camera out and shoot a few still shots and some video.

He had seen orcas three times before, but had never been so close.

One of the males had been identified through its unique tail as Koru and there were reports online the pod was the same one that visited early last month.

The sighting was yet more evidence Dunedin was the wildlife capital of New Zealand and Mr McCormack believed the number of sightings of whales and dolphins had increased in the last five years.

"We are very fortunate that just a short drive from the city and you can see all this abundant wildlife."