South Right Whales visit Darling Harbour in Sydney

When Pauline McCulloch's whale watching tour was cancelled because of yesterday's foul weather, she was disappointed.

But as the Glaswegian turned away from the Darling Harbour wharf, she saw two dark shapes moving through the water - two southern right whales visiting Sydney Harbour.

"The whales were so close you could have used to them to step onto the boat," said one onlooker.

The whales moved from Darling Harbour to Fort Denison and briefly stopped outside Kirribilli House before moving under the Harbour Bridge and towards the Opera House.