Stranded Whales
© One NewsOne of the 13 whales stranded at Farewell Spit.
Thirteen pilot whales have washed up on one of the world's greatest "whale traps".

The Department of Conservation (DOC) says the whales are stranded near the base of Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island.

It says the rest of the pod of about 50 whales is just offshore and there is a risk some of those whales may also become stranded.

DOC says it was alerted to the stranding this morning.

Marine mammal charity Project Jonah is in the process of contacting rescue volunteers in the area.

Volunteers will work to keep the whales alive until they can attempt to refloat them at the next high tide tonight.

Stranded Whales_1
© One NewsPilot whales stranded at Farewell Spit.
DOC says it will not be able to attempt to refloat the stranded whales until about 8pm due to tides and will only have about an hour to attempt to refloat them before night falls.

Hundreds of whales have been caught out in the area over the years. There was a massive operation to refloat a large pod two years ago.

Project Jonah chief executive Kimberley Muncaster said at the time of the stranding in 2012 that Golden Bay is one of New Zealand's most notorious whale stranding areas.

"It's a whale trap. We've got a long finger of sand that literally juts right out," she said.

Earlier this month, 39 long-finned pilot whales could neither escape by themselves or be rescued at Farewell Spit.

The whales were shot to prevent further suffering.