News helicopters are often deployed for life's more tragic events: fatal car crashes, natural disasters and shootings to name a few.

But on Friday morning, the Channel 7 chopper was urgently deployed to Williamstown for something most unexpected: whale watching.

Melburnians have been treated to stunning footage of two large whales playing off the coast of Williamstown, just kilometres from the CBD.

More than 30,000 peopled tuned in through a Facebook live video being broadcast from the Seven News Melbourne helicopter about 11.30am.