Akaroa Tours
Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa
4.5

Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa

By Black Cat Cruises
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About
Swim in the vicinity of wild dolphins on this Akaroa Harbour cruise, limited to 12 passengers. You’ll chance upon Hector’s dolphins, the world’s smallest and rarest dolphins, in their natural habitat. A wetsuit and mask are provided for your experience in the water, followed by a hot beverage and shower.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 8-99
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Akaroa Harbour dolphin cruise
  • Swim in the natural habitat of wild dolphins
  • Covered vessel with heated cabin and hot drinks
  • Limit of 12 passengers permitted per departure

  • 3-hours Including suiting up/showers (2.5 hrs out on the water)
  • Wetsuit and mask (for those swimming)
  • Hot Chocolate & biscuit
  • Includes a full, live commentary from skipper
  • Hot Shower Facilities
  • Final Check in is 15 minutes prior to Tour Time
What's not included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off


Start:Multiple meeting point options.
  • Option 1
    Akaroa, Main Wharf, Akaroa, Christchurch 7520, New Zealand
    Departure Point: Akaroa's main wharf Dates: 1st October through to 30th April Return point: Cruise returns to original point of departure
  • Option 2
    Akaroa, Main Wharf, Akaroa, Christchurch 7520, New Zealand
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3661SWDS_SWDW

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • Children Swimmers between 8yrs and 12yrs must be accompanied by an adult swimmer.
    • Children between 13yrs and 17yrs must be accompanied by an adult spectator.
    • Akaroa is ideally situated, only a 110 minute drive from Christchurch International Airport. You can either drive yourself or catch one of the shuttles, which operate daily between Christchurch city center and Akaroa.
    • Life Jackets are not provided or permitted and if one is required this product is not suitable, please join our Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise.
    • 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
    • If you have Asthma/Allergies please know you are required to have your inhaler/EpiPen with you
    • Please reconfirm your reservation the day prior so weather updates can be given.
    • All medical conditions need to be declared as this product may not be suitable due to injuries or recent surgeries.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3661SWDS_SWDW

    From
    $199.00
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Black Cat Cruises
      1,561
      Akaroa, New Zealand
      Joined in October 2008
    • Voyage14003689595
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommend
      This trip was amazing. Incredibly informative with a good amount of cultural inclusion. All staff on CAT were lovely and welcoming. We spent a good amount of time looking for the hector dolphins and were lucky enough to experience and observe their behaviours. I particularly love that Black Cat Cruises are offering kids go for free over the school holidays. Overall a fantastic experience and highly recommend.
      Written 2 October 2024
    • MichelleRobSH
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience
      The cruise was so good! The staff were excellent, great commentary and all very friendly. We were thrilled to see the Hectors dolphins, and the skippers made sure we got the best possible experience with them. We loved the up close views of the seals and geology. It was a great trip and we highly recommend it.
      Written 24 September 2024
    • Vicki B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great relaxed morning with dolphins and birds.
      Excellent and informative wildlife and local history tour- relaxed and friendly staff- very comfortable boat. Highly recommend.
      Written 13 September 2024
    • pkh213
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful afternoon on the water!
      We enjoyed a sunny day on the water. The boat was full but we were able to get space on the top deck. This two hour cruise made our way out to the Pacific Ocean before turning back. We unfortunately did not see any of Hector's dolphins but it was a lovely cruise.
      Written 9 June 2024
    • lkrocks
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great experience
      Awesome tour and crew!!! Derek, max, Abi all rocked it…wonderful views and easy boat to see them from, great narration too.
      Written 21 May 2024
    • almenj
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best Dolphin Tour
      We saw everything. The dolphins were spectacular. The seals especially the baby seals were so cute and active. The boat is just the right size to get up close.
      Written 14 May 2024
    • Izabella I
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Gorgeous adventure
      It was a great pleasure to get on board with Black Cat on a harbour cruise. We got to see the dolphins and learnt about the gorgeous surroundings. Thank you !!
      Written 30 April 2024
    • manysights2see
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent experinece
      Excellent experience ! The captain of ship did an excellent job spotting dolphins, penguins and seals in addition to providing nice explanations of the area. The staff and crew were very friendly and helpful! We thoroughly enjoyed our two hour cruise.
      Written 23 March 2024
    • Shelley O
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Outstanding!
      Fantastic landscape views. Boat goes right up to rock walls of the volcano, stops at the rocks where the sea lions are basking in the sun, and finds the pods of dolphins swimming next to our boat. Good number of people on the cruise so it is not too crowded. Outside the boat, the commentary was not always clear, but the photo shots were incredible.
      Written 19 February 2024
    • 907JLeMay
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fabulous fun!
      It was a gorgeous and hot day when we visited. We enjoyed being out on the water. The crew were attentive and friendly. The color of the water was absolutely magnificent. Hector’s dolphins put on quite a show at multiple points of our cruise. We went out into the ocean and marveled at the towering sea cliffs and geological formations. The only downside was that there were too many people on the boat and the journey felt a bit crowded. Other than that, it was a fun adventure.
      Written 5 February 2024
    • petersfun
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience
      Thanks for all, we booked the snorkelling tour with dolphins but as snorkelling was not possible on the previous two tours we were asked if we wanted to change to the harbour tour. That was the best decision ever - we saw at least six groups of 2-6 dolphins right next to our boat - simply wonderful.
      Written 5 February 2024
    • Michele F
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic trip and wonderful staff
      It was absolutely brilliant the staff were amazing. The dolphins were beautiful to see. I’d recommend this company without doubt
      Written 2 February 2024
    • Jessica F
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing Experience
      We had a fantastic time! Even though we didn't get to swim with the dolphins, we spotted many! One of the dolphins gave us a little acrobatic show, which they aren't really known for. We saw an moma and a calf! Our guide Dani and skipper Chris were informative and engaging. Made the whole experience of feeling like an over stuffed sausage in the wetsuit absolutely worth it.
      Written 31 January 2024
    • 543victoriae
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dolphin swim
      Great day out. Amazing staff. We had great fun with Thomas and Harriet. Very knowledgeable and respectful of the dolphins.
      Written 31 January 2024
    • Voyager07759944498
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dolphins up close and personal.
      We've seen Dolphins before but not up close and personal. First impressions amazing. The crew were helpful and knowledgeable. It is something I will never forget. Got heaps of photos and a video of Dolphins swimming alongside the boat. High Recommend.
      Written 26 January 2024
    See all 1,561 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles156 reviews
    Excellent
    129
    Very good
    11
    Average
    5
    Poor
    7
    Terrible
    4

    nzjazz
    Nelson, New Zealand1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2022
    Exciting boat ride and knowledgeable crew. The skipper of our boat went out of his way to maximise the potential contact with wildlife. An exciting and irreplaceable family event that left lasting memories.
    Written 22 December 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Clancy J
    14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I went on the wild dolphin experience with my Mother. We were provided with 5mm wetsuits which kept us nice and warm in the cold water. Dolphins are wild animals so nothing is ever guaranteed but the staff were very professional and persistent and communicated well with passengers. While we had a ‘slower’ day for dolphins we had an amazing time. We saw many dolphins from the boat and still were able to swim with 4ish dolphins. After today I am completely in love with Hector Dolphins - they are incredible creatures. I would highly recommend this experience.
    Written 21 December 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Karen T
    6 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2020
    A good briefing, helped into wetsuits & out on the water within half an hour.
    Take sea sickness tablets if you usually feel sick, 3 people threw up on our boat.
    Saw a few dolphins in 2’s & 3’s, and saw some babies.
    Got in the water at one stage but the dolphins didn’t stick around.
    Because we didn’t literally swim with the dolphins we got a partial refund which was nice. Lovely people to deal with.
    Written 10 December 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi karentL5898RC, We appreciate you taking the time to write a review of your excursion with us out on the water. We are more than pleased to hear that you were able to view the rare and beautiful Hectors Dolphins even though the conditions may have been a bit bumpy. We hope that one day you will be able to return and have an even closer experience in the water with these wonderful beings.
    Written 11 January 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Johnny
    Seattle, WA4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Swimming with Dolphins is something wanted to do for years and Black Cat cruises did not disappoint! We had three opportunities to jump in the water and swim with dozens of Hector dolphins. Many of them came within feet beside or underneath me! Both our guide and captain were very knowledgeable and great at pointing out where they are. The ride itself is beautiful and we got hot chocolate and cookies on our ride back. Highly recommend!
    Written 27 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Jltboy11, thank you very much for your review on TripAdvisor. So amazing you got to fulfil your dream - and so glad you chose us to do it with!! Such a magical experience. We hope you can join us in Akaroa again soon.
    Written 21 March 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Colin Fiske
    71 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2019
    We booked this independently as it was something we really wanted to do and we had a great time. There is no guarantee that the dolphins will oblige as they are wild animals. However, our skipper Kate found plenty of dolphins for us but they didn't want to play once we got into the water and as such Black Cat gave us a partial refund. My wife and I had a good laugh trying to get our wetsuits on and off which just added to the fun. A great day and to be recommended.
    Written 6 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Grumpy G, sounds like you and your wife had a wonderful day out with Skipper Kate! Thanks so much for taking the time to review us on TripAdvisor. Hopefully next time the dolphins will want to play. Thanks again and hope to see you again soon.
    Written 7 March 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Carrie
    Iwade, UK8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What an amazing day from start to finish. The staff were amazing, from the ladies behind the counter to the guys on the boat with us. The knowledge and love these guys have for the Héctor dolphins was outstanding! The day was just so special from start to finish! We saw lots of dolphins in the waters swimming and playing around which was beautiful to see. Unfortunately we only got in the water once and the dolphins weren't very interested in staying around us for very long but it was still amazing to have a wild dolphin swim past you!!
    It was a really lovely gesture to serve hot chocolate on the way back to warm everyone up a little and eventhough I personally had a once in a lifetime experience the tour guides felt we did not get the best experience and decided a partial refund was necessary. Black cat cruises were amazing and I'd definitely recommend this cruise.
    Thank you so much!!
    Written 28 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi cazr85, thank you so much for your wonderful review on TripAdvisor. Sounds like you had an amazing day out in the water despite the dolphins not wanting to play too much! Thanks for the lovely feedback on our staff, I'll be sure to pass this on to the team - they'll be wrapt! We hope you can join us again soon.
    Written 9 March 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Nicole E
    Philadelphia, PA9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2024 • Couples
    Exceptional experience! We swam with dolphins and saw a penguin & a seal! Ben and Thomas are excellent guides who are knowledgeable, patient, & fun! We recommend this to anyone interested in marine life and looking forward to a dip in the one of the many bays of Akaroa!!
    Written 5 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the great review. Sounds like you had a great day out on the water with our amazing Akaroa Team!
    Written 12 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Voyager560420
    12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2020
    We drove here to Akaroa from Christchurch, which in itself was a really nice trip with stunning views. On arrival we were sent of to get fitted into out wet suites and then out onto the boat. At all times all the staff were very helpful and nice. We left the Quay and headed out to look for the Dolphins. Over the hour to two hours we were out there the skipper took the boat to varying places and once when we had found the Dolphins we stopped. There was quite a swell that day and though we saw lots of Dolphins, we were not always allowed into the water as they had small babies with them )I was very impressed with this attitude by the crew). We did get in a couple of times, but didn't get a decent swim with them, so they gave us some money back. We still really enjoyed our trip and it was great seeing these small Dolphins in the wild. Would highly recommend this trip.
    Written 3 April 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Voyager560420, Thank you for choosing Black Cat Cruises to introduce you to Akaroa Harbour and the wonderful Hectors Dolphins. We are very pleased to hear that you had an enjoyable experience. It is very important to us that all of our trips are fun, safe and sensitive to the nature that surrounds us. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and we hope to see you again soon! All the best
    Written 6 April 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Tony P
    Springfield, Missouri18 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    We had a very informed and professional setting up and ride to the dolphins along with sightings and a few dolphins came alongside. The only reason I did not give 5 stars was because of the passengers that spoil't it (the made noise in the water on 2 locations and the Hectors disappeared. They gave us a refund, but damage done. The little we saw was exciting.
    Written 26 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Tonyp4357, thanks very much for your review. We apologise that your trip didn't quite meet your expectation but sounds like you still had a great time out there! We hope you are able to come and join on another tour in the future.
    Written 21 March 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    dleighb
    Texas77 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2019
    We had a wonderful time with Black Cat Cruises even though we were not lucky enough to swim with the dolphins. That is the risk when you choose trying to interact with wild animals, and it is exceptional that Black Cat Cruises has a refund policy in place in instances when nature chooses not to cooperate as was the case with us. Everyone we worked with there was very nice and accommodating. They do give you a snorkel and mask, but we did not feel like we really needed them as we spent much of our time floating on the water. Maybe if the dolphins had come to play with us, we might have wanted a mask to try and see them underwater. Even though we didn’t get to swim with the dolphins, we still got a nice harbor cruise and were able to see dolphins and some fur seals. We were worried about the swimming without a life vest requirement, but we didn’t have any problems and found that with the wet suit we and salinity of the water, we were relatively buoyant, so the swimming wasn’t as difficult as it might be in fresh water or an area with strong tides.
    Written 11 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi dleighb, thanks very much for taking the time to write us a review on TripAdvisor - we really appreciate it! I'm so glad you had a great time out on the water with our crew. Yes as you mentioned, it is a wild swimming experience and we leave it up to the dolphins entirely if they are keen to interact or not - thank you for your understanding :-) Sounds like you still had a wonderful day viewing all the dolphins around you and we hope to see you out with us for another try soon!
    Written 9 March 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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