Wellington - A stranded orca whale was given a 43-kilometre trailer ride across Auckland city's roads on Saturday to be returned to the sea because weather conditions were better on the eastern coast, television channels reported.

The unusual rescue was observed by Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the late French ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, who is in New Zealand to make a television documentary about orcas, and his son, Fabien.

The 3.4 metre female whale, estimated to be about 3-years-old, was stranded at Huia on the west coast, on Friday afternoon, the TV3 channel reported.

Department of Conservation workers and volunteers put it on a trailer to await suitable conditions for returning it to the sea but weather conditions deteriorated overnight and it was decided to take it across New Zealand's biggest city and over the Auckland harbour bridge to Takapuna beach.

It was successfully returned to the sea there after more than 24 hours out of the water. (dpa)