A trio of orca have been spotted heading for Wellington from Petone's foreshore

The mammals were first spotted in the Hutt River by rest home residents on an outing.

They swam upriver - before turning back into the harbour when the tide turned.

Dean Kentwell was transporting the residents, and he says it's not something you see every day.

He says three orca frolicking in the river is not a regular thing, so it was exciting to see.