'Rare' sight off NSW coast delights lucky onlookers

A "rare" sight has been spotted off the southern New South Wales coast, delighting onlookers.

Victorian woman Vannessa James Estigarribia filmed a small pod of orcas, also known as killer whales, frolicking metres from shore on the Sapphire Coast.

In video uploaded to Facebook, Ms Estigarribia is heard asking "where is it" before a large orca breaks the ocean's surface, prompting shrieks of joy from onlookers.

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A small pod of orcas was spotted twice off the Saphire coast in southern NSW.

"That was huge," she added.

Another onlooker speculated the animals were feeding on bait fish.

Sapphire Coast NSW confirmed a pod was spotted twice, with the most recent sighting occurring last Friday off Eden.

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"What an incredibly special moment," they said.

"Whilst Eden's killer whale history is legendary, modern sightings are very rare.

"We can't help but wonder if this pod could be descendants of Eden's famous orcas like Old Tom, Hookey or Charlie, patrolling the east coast just like they did in those early days."

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Orcas

Despite their name, killers whales are actually the largest member of the dolphin family.

"These animals are serious meat eaters and one of the most efficient large predators of the ocean," Australian Museum says.

"A cooperative hunter, they often work in packs, and will take a broad range of vertebrates including whales, seals, penguins, fish, sea otters, and turtles."