An emperor penguin swam roughly 3434 kilometres from Antarctica to Western Australia in what scientists believe is the longest journey ever recorded for the species.

The penguin was spotted by a surfer in the small coastal town of Denmark, who initially thought he had noticed a sea bird exiting the water, before realising the creature was “way bigger”.

“We [were] like ‘what is that thing coming out of the water?’ And it had a tail sticking out like a duck,” said Aaron Fowler.

The bird made its way out of the sea and waddled over to the group of surfers, Fowler told the ABC. “He was not shy at all,” he added.

The young male, which stood about a metre tall, probably started its journey from one of about 60 known emperor penguin colonies in eastern Antarctica and swam to Ocean Beach.

As far as scientists are aware, penguins have never made such a long journey north, though two are known to have reached southern New Zealand. Other penguins, such as the smaller king penguins, have made similarly long journeys.

Dr Belinda Cannell, a penguin expert at the University of Western Australia, said: “The furthest north they go from Antarctica is about 50 degrees south from my readings and Ocean Beach is 35 degrees south, so a lot further north than what they’ve ever tracked juvenile penguins from Antarctica before.”

One of the theories behind the penguin’s journey is that it was following a strong current, which the birds tend to do when hunting food.