The futuristic jet boat was escorted into the harbour by two Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol vessels, Encounter and Lewis Dunn, as hundreds of curious residents and holidaymakers watched.

Earthrace, built in New Zealand and for sale to anyone with $1.5million to spare, set a world record for a powerboat circumnavigating the globe last year.

It completed the journey in 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes smashing the old record by more than two weeks. It did so using 100 per cent renewable biodiesel fuel, leaving a net zero carbon footprint in the process.

Earthrace is currently on a tour of the east coast of Australia before returning home.

Crew members are using the tour to show people through the boat and to promote environmental sustainability.

They also have plenty of interesting stories to tell about their travels including being shot at by Columbian pirates and detained by armed guards in Guatemala.

The 24m, tri-hull Earthrace is capable of speeds of up to 40 knots and can submarine up to 7m underwater as it powers across the ocean.

At six knots it has a range of 13,000 nautical miles (24,000km) on one tank of biodiesel and at 25 knots it has a range of about 2000 nautical miles (3700km).

Earthrace will be open for inspection in Ulladulla between 11am and 6pm today before continuing its journey south. It will be in Batemans Bay tomorrow and Saturday and Bermagui on Sunday morning.