But attendees at a regional surf lifesaving event found this was just the case when they went to fetch their bags at the junior carnival in St Clair on Sunday.
Carnival-goer Justin Stott said he had seen sea lions before while surfing, but never that close.
"To me, it looked like they were just having a bit of a sleep and a rest in the tent.
"They looked very comfortable and relaxed — didn’t seem fazed by people at all.
"One of them looked like it was using the clothes and stuff as a pillow."
The carnival is a monthly event that brings together all the surf lifesaving clubs around Otago. St Clair was taking its turn to host.
St Clair Surf Life Saving Club junior co-ordinator Jon Richardson said the pair of sea lions decided they wanted to semi-participate in the carnival proceedings, before making themselves at home in the tent.
Attendees chose to leave them to their nap.
While sea lions were a regular sight at St Clair, it was not every day you saw them having a sleep among beachgoers’ belongings.
"Everyone’s clothes would have been pretty smelly afterwards", he said.
"They’re not particularly good in terms of smell, are they?"
The sighting was a unique case where the sea lions acted incredibly docile, as they could otherwise get quite protective, Mr Richardson said.
He advised people to follow Department of Conservation guidelines: keep their distance, put their dogs on a lead and leave the sea lions alone.
Coastal Biodiversity Otago ranger Jim Fyfe said the tent looked like a "very cool place to hang out on a hot day".
tim.scott@odt.co.nz , PIJF cadet reporter
