A visiting whale has given Wellington commuters a special trip to work this morning, frolicking in the harbour as ferry passengers watched.

The rare southern right whale was first spotted in Wellington Harbour on Tuesday, and reappeared today, to the delight of those on their way to work.

Simon Woolf snapped this photo of the whale. Photo / Woolf Photography

A photo taken by Wellington City Council media specialist Sean Gillespie shows the whale jumping out of the water near the East by West ferry.

What a special sight this morning out the Council office windows! #WhaleWatch pic.twitter.com/AHg1Z6Bt5E

— Wellington City Council (@WgtnCC) July 4, 2018

East by West office manager Coralie Christian said the whale "started putting on its show" this morning.

Commuters disembarking the ferry were thanking the crew "and saying how amazing it was", she said.

The harbourmaster told staff about the whale on Tuesday, but hadn't seen it on the ferry trips until today.

Boaties keen to get a glimpse are being asked to keep their distance.

Showoff... #Whalewatch pic.twitter.com/NVmT6h16Ga

— Scott (@MadMaclegend) July 4, 2018

Harbourmaster Grant Nalder said on Tuesday they were making sure all vessels on the water were aware of the whale's presence.

"The advice is to keep clear and give the whale some space."

Niwa marine ecologist Kim Goetz said they had also recorded sounds recently that are thought to be from southern right whales. 

She saidvarious signs have pointed to southern right whales returning to the area.

Delighted Wellingtonians have been posting their photos and videos of the whale on social media.

Underrated #cycling benefit: pausing for a wee bit of whale watching in the middle of your morning commute. #Wellington pic.twitter.com/ju2tTuCsCr

— Peter (@cogtwitoergosum) July 2, 2018