‘Inquisitive, relaxed’ humpback whale swimming in Sydney Harbour delays ferries and boats

<p>Whale is having a ‘full harbour experience’, says an expert aboard a maritime boat shadowing the supersized mammal</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jul/16/australia-news-live-wednesday-china-relations-economy-foreign-policy-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>An “inquisitive” humpback whale that wandered from its usual migratory route and into the centre of Sydney Harbour is causing “navigational challenges” for ferries and vessels as its tour of the world-famous harbour continues.</p><p>The sub-adult whale was spotted by commuters on a harbour ferry service near Fort Denison about 8am on Wednesday. It swam to Circular Quay – Sydney’s central ferry terminal – before moving east towards the defence base of Garden Island then to Watsons Bay and north to Balmoral Bay.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/16/humpback-whale-swimming-in-sydney-harbour-delays-ferries-and-boats">Continue reading...</a>