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Whale of a time in Sydney Harbour

The whales put on a dramatic show for the harbour commuters

SYDNEY, Australia -- Three Southern Right whales took time out from their annual migration journey to take in the many sights of Sydney's Harbour and put on a spectacular show for local residents and workers.

Ferry commuters were treated to an impressive nature display on Wednesday as the whales frolicked nearby the city's famous opera house.

The three adult whales have enthralled Sydney-siders since arriving at the harbour on Tuesday, slowly making their way deeper to the shores of Sydney's central business district.

Measuring about 18 meters (57 feet) long with each probably weighing around 55 tonnes, the whale show caused cross-harbor ferries and water taxis to halt as skippers took commuters for a closer look.

EXTRA INFORMATION Cleaner waters entice Southern Right whales  into Sydney Harbour

National Parks and Wildlife Service officers have enforced a 100-meter exclusion zone around the mammals and say the whales may remain in the harbor until the end of the southern hemisphere winter in August.

"It's unusual that they have come so far up the harbor where it is noisy and busy. Whales usually seek quieter parts of the harbor," a national parks spokeswoman told Reuters news agency.

During June and July, about 150-200 whales migrate from colder feeding waters further south to calve in the warmer waters off Australia's Queensland coast.

Around 70 humpback and Southern Right whales have been spotted off Sydney's south coast since May, Reuters reported.

Whales have been entering Sydney Harbour only in recent years with tougher anti-pollution laws believed responsible for enticing the large mammals into the harbour.