Locals and tourists alike regularly get glimpses of whales, dolphins, turtles and even penguins have been known to turn up from time to time.

But what about a fur seal?

Liam Murphy was lucky enough to be out at Tacking Point on June 4, and captured the remarkable sight of a fur seal sun bathing on the rocks.

Jacqueline O’Neill president of ORRCA said the sighting is a lot more common that people may think.

“Particularly over winter, we get lots of reports of seals right along the coast including in Port Macquarie,” Ms O’Neill said.

“Sometimes the seal can be injured or just wanting a rest from the rough seas but it completely normal for people to be spotting them at any time of the year.”

She said the seal in question, spotted in Port Macquarie, was probably a New Zealand fur seal, not the rumoured Australian fur seal. 

“We were actually sent photos of the seal spotted in Port Macquarie and our experts think it is a New Zealand fur seal not an Australian fur seal,” she said.

“They are both very similar, but it is actually more common to spot the New Zealand version not the Australian seal.

“It is a great time to get out and do some animal spotting from the beaches and along the coastline as you never know what you will see out in the ocean.”

The seal sighting comes as whale season is well and truly underway, and less than three weeks from the whale census on June 24.