Somewhere in picturesque Far North Queensland, pleasure craft sailing just off the coast may have spotted an unusual-looking visitor to their region.

Key points: A Chinese ship has been tracked journeying to Australia to monitor joint US-Australian war games

Formally unverified images of a vessel shared on social media match the description of a known radio-monitoring ship

The Defence Department has not commented on the amateur video

One week after the ABC revealed a Chinese surveillance ship was being tracked heading for Australia, video has emerged purporting to show the arrival of the high-tech vessel.

The amateur video was apparently recorded from on board another boat on Saturday morning, then shared on social media shortly after.

Beijing has dispatched the so-called spy ship to Queensland to monitor joint military exercises with the United States known as "Talisman Sabre".

The footage shows a Chinese flagged vessel making its way south along the coast. ( Twitter )

Although it has not been formally verified, the brief video shows a Chinese-flagged naval vessel numbered 853 making its way south along the coast, where it eventually passes another nearby yacht.

Last week, the ABC reported that the ADF had identified the visiting Chinese vessel as the Tianwangxing, which translates as "Uranus" and carries the number 853.

The Dongdiao-class vessel belongs to the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) East Sea Fleet which is based in Zhejiang Province, and was commissioned in late 2010.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 33 seconds 33 s High-tech Chinese spy ship makes its way towards Australia

On board the Dongdiao AGI 853 are several clearly visible spherical domes which shield dish antennas that collect and intercept radio signals and give it a distinct profile.

Not surprisingly, the Defence Department is sticking with its policy of not commenting — but several military sources have told the ABC the video appears authentic.

"It's really hard to say [where the video was taken] but I would say far north coast between Cape York and Cooktown," one senior defence figure said.

"[The PLA ship] could be going through inner reef on transit, which would be close to the Australian mainland."

"Parts of that transit is in Australian territorial waters, but that is effectively considered an international strait," the senior official added.

In a statement, the Defence Department told the ABC "any questions relating to the movement of PLA vessels should be directed to the Chinese Government".

The Chinese spy ship is expected to remain outside Australian territorial waters, but within this country's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Coral Sea as it monitors the month-long war games.