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Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa
Badge of ExcellenceAkaroa, New Zealand
- 3 hours
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Swim with dolphins at Akaroa Harbour, where Hector’s dolphins—found only in New Zealand—visit the waters of the Banks Peninsula. Cruising the sheltered harbor by jet-powered catamaran so you can swim up close, learn from the highly trained crew how to interact safely with the world’s smallest and rarest dolphins. Just 12 swimmers are permitted per vessel, ensuring an intimate experience in a small group. Wetsuits and masks are provided, along with a hot shower and drink on board.
- Swim with the rare and beautiful wild Hector's dolphins in a protected harbor
- Enjoy a cruise by a heated jet powered catamaran
- Receive a briefing on how to interact with the dolphins before swimming with these marine mammals
- Includes wetsuit, mask, hot shower, and hot beverage
- Small and intimate experience, only 12 swimmers permitted per vessel
What's Included
- 3-hours Including suiting up/showers (2 hrs out on the water)
- Wetsuit and mask (for those swimming)
- Hot Chocolate & biscuit
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
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This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Start your swim-with-dolphins tour in New Zealand’s South Island by climbing aboard a jet-powered catamaran at Akaroa Harbour—the flooded crater of an extinct volcano surrounded by awe-inspiring volcanic cliffs. During a briefing and instruction on how to interact responsibly with Hector’s dolphins, learn what to expect prior to your water adventure. Then don your provided wetsuit and mask and slip into the tranquil harbor to observe these magnificent marine mammals up close.
Your knowledgeable crew ensures your safety on a memorable dolphin swim during this excursion, popular due to the limited number of passengers permitted per departure (limited to 12). The covered vessel has no propellers, making it safer for you and the dolphins.
After your dolphin swim, you can warm up quickly in the heated cabin or take a hot shower, available onboard, and enjoy a warm beverage.
This tour operator was the first cruise boat company in the world to get the coveted Green Globe 21, an international program to ensure best environmental practices.
Your knowledgeable crew ensures your safety on a memorable dolphin swim during this excursion, popular due to the limited number of passengers permitted per departure (limited to 12). The covered vessel has no propellers, making it safer for you and the dolphins.
After your dolphin swim, you can warm up quickly in the heated cabin or take a hot shower, available onboard, and enjoy a warm beverage.
This tour operator was the first cruise boat company in the world to get the coveted Green Globe 21, an international program to ensure best environmental practices.
Akaroa Harbour
Admission Ticket Free
Akaroa
Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- In the event that you do not have a successful swim a 30% refund will be processed.
- Minimum age for a child to Swim with Dolphins is 8yrs and to join as a spectator 4yrs
- Final Check in time is 15 minutes prior to Tour Time
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
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Featured review
Michael_P
The whole experience was excellent. Our guides Harriet and Thomas were very good and enthusiastic and made it a fun and memorable experience. We were lucky and saw a penguin on the way out to the dolphins. Conditions were good and we were able to spend 45 minutes in the water as they came to visit. The equipment was really good and the thick wetsuits kept us comfortable in the cold water. The warm water pumped into the wetsuit afterwards felt good! A great experience and highly recommended.
Reviews
4.5
203 reviews
Michael_P, Mar 2024
The whole experience was excellent. Our guides Harriet and Thomas were very good and enthusiastic and made it a fun and memorable experience. We were lucky and saw a penguin on the way out to the dolphins. Conditions were good and we were able to spend 45 minutes in the water as they came to visit. The equipment was really good and the thick wetsuits kept us comfortable in the cold water. The warm water pumped into the wetsuit afterwards felt good! A great experience and highly recommended.
Robin_L, Mar 2024
Didn’t get to swim with dolphins because they weren’t around, which of course is not the company’s fault. They offered a 30% refund and we asked if we instead could get some of the free spots on the next tour, but they said we had to pay full price for that, really wanted to swim with dolphins but is it really reasonable to take 70% of the risk that there will be no swimming if we pay for another one? I feel that they could’ve offered us to go along with the next tour, that would’ve not cost them anything extra, but at least we would’ve got the experience we were looking for
Adrie_H, Feb 2024
Saw a jumping dolf.
apparently you don't see that very often we were told.
We could not swim with the dolfijnen as they were Watchung people.
Jennifer_L, Feb 2024
Amazing experience!! Our guide, Ben, and skipper, Thomas, were the best. They were great at spotting dolphins and knowing when they were friendly and comfortable being close to humans. We were fortunate to see 10-20 of them come up close to us while in the water (insane!) and it was so great to see how excited Ben and Thomas was for us. It’s great that the company not only operates to a high ethical standard but that the crew also has such a passion for what they do.
Nicole_E, Jan 2024
This experience is extraordinary! We swam with dolphins, saw a penguin and a seal. Definitely recommend this to anyone interested in marine life and getting to take a dip in the water! Absolutely glorious!! Ben and Thomas are fun, knowledgeable, and patient guides!
Johanne_R, Dec 2023
Stupendous! I i am so grateful to have the opportunity to swim with these magnificent animals. They playfully swam all around us and gave us a wonderful show of flips, jumps and somersaults. Outstanding! The crew were also fabulous thanks captain Shannon Esther and Simon all very knowledgeable and helpful.
Rolando_Q, Oct 2023
This is a MUST do when visiting NZ! The staff excel at amazing customer service. All extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and they make it a priority to ensure you have a great time and try to see those beautiful Hector’s dolphins
Tim_M, Feb 2023
Black Cat actually wouldn't let us swim because the dolphins were feeding - I was impressed they showed restraint in this way. We saw lots of Hector's Dolphins from the boat, but they followed New Zealand's laws in not having us disturb them because they were feeding. I could imagine a company with less scruples saying go ahead anyway. Also, they gave us a partial refund because we didn't swim with dolphins, which we appreciated.
Jeffrey_M, Feb 2023
We really enjoyed our trip, the dolphins were beautiful, the crew and staff were fantastic from start to finish. Love it!!
Tine_A, Nov 2022
Fantastic experience with dolphins swimming so close. Dont let rain stop you as you will be in a wet suit anyway.
From $133.05
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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