A new mother and her young take tour along South West coastline thrilling beach visitors

Locals to a popular South West town were thrilled to see a rare visitor coming close to shore on Friday evening as a southern right whale guided her new calf south along the sheltered shore.

Residents of Preston Beach were thrilled to see the marine mammal coasting down the beach with the first sighting about 3.30pm on Friday.

The whale shepherded her calf south as the sun set, but was spotted again along Preston Beach’s coastline on Saturday.

Preston Beach volunteer ranger Noel Dew was quick to check on her and her calf on Friday night when they were first seen, but when he saw they were in good health and travelling safely he was thrilled to just be able to watch the magnificent creature sail around.

“It’s a rare occasion to see whales on Preston Beach,” he said.

“It’s so good to see them when they’re so close, she’s obviously resting with her calf.

“You can never get bored whale watching,” he said.

Lyla Salkilld, 9, and Cassie Salkilld, 12, were some of the first locals to make it to the beach, with both girls saying they had never seen a whale at Preston Beach.

Lyla said it was very cool seeing the whales so close to home.

Also at the beach was Preston Beach local Kat Mcaul who said she headed to the sand as soon as she heard of their arrival.

“I raced over the sand dunes to take some photos,” she said.

Ms Mcaul said it was the first time she had seen whales at Preston Beach.

Phoenix Collins, 12, was lucky enough to have the whale visit as an early birthday present as he and his friends visited the beach that evening.

His sister Khaleesi Collins, 10, could barely contain her excitement seeing a whale for the first time.

“It is super awesome,” she said.

Southern right whales breed along the coastline of Australia before heading south to feed in the Antarctic summer.