Cruise the waters of Hauraki Gulf Marine Park in search of whales, dolphins and penguins on a half-day tour from Auckland. You’ll board a spacious catamaran at Viaduct Harbour and hear expert guides share informative commentary about New Zealand’s natural wonders. During the whale and dolphin safari, keep an eye out for six types of whales that frequent these waters, as well as seabirds such as Australasian gannets, petrels and terns.

4.5-hour whale and dolphin watching cruise, from Auckland
Ride aboard a custom-built luxury catamaran for a superb viewing experience
Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and as many as six types of whales
Observe gannets that hunt by plunging into the water at speeds of up to 87 mph (140 kmh)
Listen to entertaining and informative commentary provided by your captain and crew
Departs from the Viaduct Harbour, conveniently located in downtown Auckland

What's Included

Local guide
Every ticket purchased contributes directly to Marine Mammal Conservation
Expert commentary/Interaction with our onboard Marine Research Scientists

Food and drinks (available to purchase)
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Eastern Viaduct, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Our boat is at Berth 9, Eastern Viaduct Marina, accessed from the end of Quay Street heading West. This is opposite the Maritime Museum. On arrival look for our crew at the top of our boarding ramp to check in 30 minutes before departure (check-in closes 15 minutes prior to trip time).

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Meet the boat crew at the New Zealand Maritime Museum at Viaduct Harbour, and depart aboard a custom-built 65-foot (20-meter) catamaran, comfortably appointed so you can best view up to six types of whales as well as dolphins and other marine life.

Throughout your 4.5-hour cruise, the captain and guides entertain you with fascinating facts about the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, home to five marine preserves and sprinkled with islands — it's considered one of the world’s most biologically diverse marine parks and home to some 23 different species.

Hear about research conducted in partnerships with local marine scientists and discover which whales the crew tracks. They’ll point out sea mammals such as frequently spotted pods of bottlenose dolphins and Bryde’s whales, native to New Zealand.

Be ready to snap photos of adorable blue penguins. Set your binoculars upon seabirds such as Australasian gannets, petrels, shearwaters and white-fronted terns soaring above or plunging into the sea.

Afterward, the boat returns to Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, where your tour ends.

Please note: While wildlife viewings cannot be guaranteed, dolphins and whales are often swimming around these waters. In the event that you do not see any marine mammals during your trip, you can go again another day at no extra charge.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Most travelers can participate
Advisable to dress in warm layers and weatherproof gear as weather can be unpredictable
Advisable to bring sun hat (with chin strap to secure it), sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, binoculars and flat-soled shoes
IMPORTANT: Check in closes 15 minutes prior to stated departure time. Those passengers who are late risk losing their allocated seats.
If mobility impaired and a wheelchair is required, please contact operator directly to discuss requirements
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 99 travelers

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.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

GEORGE_Z

An awesome trip, manage to see all the three mammals (an extreme rare), occasion indeed. The crew were extremely friendly and courteous. The information they provided was very informative. Will certainly recommend them to my family members and friends. Congrats and do keep up the good work - (crew of the Catamaran).

Reviews

4.5

1,448 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 1,448 reviews

Had a whale of a time.

Katherine_K, Apr 2024

We were blessed to encounter watching the Dolphins put on a show. The Ganets diving for fish at high speed and the Whale 🐋 turning up to make this a better pleasing experience. The staff on board are fantastic and very friendly.

Great trip

Mallika_E, Apr 2024

Had a great day. Great experience. Beautiful Dolphins and you can see them very closely. Lots of birds are there. We saw 2 whales.

Large pod of dolphins

Stewart_P, Apr 2024

Large pod of dolphins and diving gannets were the highlight. Weather overcast, boat very stable, not too crowded. No sign of whales

Dolphins watching

KaylaMarie_R, Apr 2024

I had a wonderful frist time watching the dolphins. I would recommend to anyone who loves to watch the dolphins

Nice experience

Zixi_T, Apr 2024

The crew were helpful and informative. Saw a Brydes whale in the distance, many dolphins, little blue penguins, gannets and many other birds. Tips: wear windproof jackets because it can get cold on the deck.

Exploring marine life!

Becky_P, Apr 2024

My original date was cancelled because it was too windy. It was easy to call and reschedule and they got me on my first choice. It was a nice calm day, we saw penguins (too hard to photograph), and common dolphins and a Brydes whale (she hasn’t had a recorded spotting since 2020)! The dolphins were friendly and swam with the boat, the whale was more elusive and my iPhone wasn’t designed to capture that type of nature picture. I would have loved to see orcas or mire whales, but that is nature. The crew did work to find Marie life for us to see and explained the s identification research they do along the way. Everyone was very friendly and approachable.

Unforgettable Safari

Kay_P, Apr 2024

The staff were excellent, full of knowledge and enthusiasm. Unfortunately I have forgotten all their names (Sana, George, Pete???) but I will never forget the experience

Great tour

Thaer_N, Apr 2024

Considering you don’t don’t always get to see whales if not in season these folks did an amazing job regardless and we saw lots and dolphins and other life out in the gulf. They even still offered us a refund as we didn’t see whales and it was a bit choppy.

Dolphins we're wonderful

Karen_M, Apr 2024

Great cruise. Only saw one whale that they stuck with for a long time, and turned the boat so that the people on the bow always had the best view- disregarding people who couldn't stand the whole time. The highlight for us tho were the 300 or so dolphins we saw all around the boat, who didn't choose to only be around the bow. Would do it again to see the amazing dolphins.

Impossible to book

helen_m, Apr 2024

We tried to book this trip on three separate occasions and each time it was cancelled either due to "operational difficulties" or weather. Only on one of these occasions was the weather bad.

fun trip, some guests not well behaved

Charles_R, Mar 2024

watching wildlife. Birds, dolphins. seas a little choppy. some guests not well behaved and pushy. Staff threatened 4 times to put the bad passengers below but didn’t follow through. This made other passengers have to put up with them, uncool.

I liked George’s...

Harold_C, Mar 2024

I liked George’s description of the overall research program. Saw pseudo-orcas and blue-nose dolphins.

Exceptional trip with a tremendous crew

David_H, Mar 2024

The boat, the crew, the trip, everything was exceptional and very informative. We saw 2 different types of dolphins and a whale. Wonder!

Beautiful day out.

SHARON_R, Mar 2024

The team was informative and friendly. Though we did not see anywhales , we saw a pod of 80-100 dolphins.

Amazing and educational tour

Oiling_y, Mar 2024

I didn't get to see any orcas, but I saw many common dolphins. The crew was amazing and professional. It was an educational tour about marine life in the ocean and how marine biologists collect data for scientific research. Highly recommended.

Special experience

Toby_L, Mar 2024

The crew was so nice, especially when I got seasick. I got to see whales fin and dolphins playing around the boat.

Void!

Cynde_B, Mar 2024

I confused the dates and ask the operator to change dates and was refused the option even though there is availability. Do not use. They are not flexible or accommodating.

Awesome experience!

Janice_D, Mar 2024

Even though the weather was a little rocky we saw a bunch of dolphins (including babies!). Only brief glimpses of a whale but it was a fantastic experience learning about the ecosystem.

Best day ever!

Elizabeth_C, Mar 2024

We had the absolute perfect day. The crew and skipper were awesome, super nice and helpful and very knowledgeable. Answered all our questions. The best part was we saw orca and common dolphins and penguins. It could not have been better.!!!!! Highly recommend this excursion

Friendly and informative staff.

Nancy_B, Mar 2024

We saw lots of dolphin, no whales. We could not hear/ understand the PA system. The crew were informative.

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