They jumped in their boat and cruised alongside the whale, watching it peacefully.
Now the Quarantine Island keeper is getting ready to move on, but she said she would never forget the "incredible" experiences living on the island had given her family.
Mrs Hughes moved to the Island in July 2020 with her two children, Arlo and Zoe, and husband, former Green MP Gareth Hughes.
Their island life began when they travelled down to Dunedin intending to stay for about six months before they went travelling in a yacht.
However, when she saw the advertisement for the job as keeper of the island, she "never wanted a job more".
With her husband fresh out of Parliament, the family needed some time together and there seemed no better way to reconnect.
Moving to the island had been one of the best decisions she had ever made, but it was not always ocean sunsets and orca.
Arlo and Zoe still had to go to school and were taken to Port Chalmers by boat each day at 7.30am.
In the winter it was often very cold and still dark at that time.
Living alone on the island they were often at the "mercy of the elements" and there were times the children had to stay home from school.
The keeper was responsible for organising and guiding daily tours, which took a lot of management and could be draining.
Although it could be tough, every time she hosted a tour she was reminded of how lucky she and her family had been to live on such a beautiful island, she said.
However, the adventures were not over yet.
Her husband had taken advantage of the quiet surroundings and had been working on a biography of former Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons.
With that almost complete, it was time for the family to find something new to do.
They had recently bought a yacht, called Avanti, and would soon continue with their original plan to explore the world, she said.
The family are moving to Port Chalmers in March and were pleased not to have to face another winter on the island.
