Whale Island Tours
Whale Island Tours
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Guided walking tours of Whale (Moutohora) island sanctuary, a pristine wildlife reserve 9kms from Whakatane. The tour includes boat trip to the island, circumnavigation, walking on island to saddle lookout. Your skipper and guide Phil with Diveworks has 23 years of involvement with regeneration and restocking of native flora and fauna, he has been involved with the introduction of endangered Saddleback, most of the Kiwi, Tuatara lizard and the many Scientific monitoring, Firewatch and Cultural expeditions during the Islands establishment period. In 2009 he concluded a 3 year DOC concession to monitor and study the newly establishing seal colony which later resulted in a permit to swim with them. Phil has extensive information and records of the pest eradication program and the introduction and monitoring of Kiwi and Tuatara. He will tell you how Kakariki were introduced and then recaptured and will proudly show you trees he himself planted now exceeding 10 meters in height. The whole trip is exciting, informative and culminates with a Hot water beach swim.
Whakatāne, New Zealand
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5.0
29 reviews
Excellent
27
Very good
1
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1
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Cjm2511
Whakatāne, New Zealand17 contributions
Dec 2020 • Family
Three generations loved this tour today - great guides, safety paramount, and a walk spotting even Tuatara, and Kiwi Prints among many birds. A swim for all, a spectacular cruise around our own tropical isle, and then a large pod of Dolphins to escort us homewards. Doesn’t get any better, anywhere in the world. And it’s right here. Do it! Thanks Phil, Steph, and the team.
Written 11 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.
Lisa S
4 contributions
Jan 2020
Loved our tour of Whale Island! We were a family group ranging in age from 7 to 70 and everyone really enjoyed the experience. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed a lovely scenic boat ride out to the island. The tour guides were very informative and knowledgeable and we saw lots of saddleback and Tui. The kids (and the adults) really enjoyed digging up the hot sand at sulphur bay. Highly recommend this tour to all.
Written 1 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.
AliSin01
Lower Hutt, New Zealand32 contributions
Mar 2021
Had a great day out. The staff were so friendly and helpful and did a great job of giving us they information and stories without over doing it.
Saw lots of birds and enjoyed the relaxing time on the beach in the warm water.
Highly recommend.
Saw lots of birds and enjoyed the relaxing time on the beach in the warm water.
Highly recommend.
Written 17 March 2021
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.
Gill
3 contributions
Jan 2020
Only 15 mins by boat to great island sanctuary with tui, kakariki, saddleback, grey petrel, skink and tuatara and kiwi (didn't see last 2 but was assured they were there). We were very well looked after by our knowledgeable guides. The 1 hour walk is fairly easy but some uphill and a small part close to cliff edge. I'm not fit but managed it ok. The island's whale shape is due to 3 volcanic cones - now bush clad and extinct. Highly recommended.
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.
Hamish
Hamilton, New Zealand12 contributions
Jan 2020
After a quick trip out by boat we went for a walk up the island. Saw a tuatara, saddleback and karkariki. Informative guides and small numbers meant you got the most of the trip.
Finishing off with a dip in Sulphur Bay. The hot water in the hot pools too much for most on this occasion
Finishing off with a dip in Sulphur Bay. The hot water in the hot pools too much for most on this occasion
Written 26 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.
David
Wellington, New Zealand16 contributions
Nov 2021
What made this trip so special was the friendliness and care taken by our guides. We were a charter group of walkers with a wide range of ability. What impressed me most was the patience of the guides in dealing with some of the elderly members of the group. It was a great day out and to see and hear so many saddlebacks was a huge surprise.
Written 14 November 2021
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.
RBay
Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand14 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
From start to finish, this tour of Whale Island was incredible. We were a party of 10 of mixed ages - from 9 to 83. Steph, Phil and their daughter Karly showed us a really good time and were true professionals. Our trip was well planned and safety was paramount.
We snorkelled with seals, motored right around the island and landed on the island and walked up to the saddle. Phil even found time to let us catch our dinner - 2 large kahawai in 5 minutes!
The restoration work that has been done on the island is amazing. Having visited the island in the late 80s, the transformation is incredible. I was blown away by how tame the birds were - we have been to a lot of wildlife sanctuaries around NZ but this would be one of the best. Steph knew her stuff and was able to share lots of information and anecdotes.
I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Whakatane. You’ll get an experience you’ll never forget.
We snorkelled with seals, motored right around the island and landed on the island and walked up to the saddle. Phil even found time to let us catch our dinner - 2 large kahawai in 5 minutes!
The restoration work that has been done on the island is amazing. Having visited the island in the late 80s, the transformation is incredible. I was blown away by how tame the birds were - we have been to a lot of wildlife sanctuaries around NZ but this would be one of the best. Steph knew her stuff and was able to share lots of information and anecdotes.
I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Whakatane. You’ll get an experience you’ll never forget.
Written 3 January 2019
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.
Mariarun2015
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand31 contributions
Jan 2017 • Family
Thanks Phil and team for making this a wonderful experience for us. We enjoyed every bit of this tour - listening to the birds and seeing a few of them, exploring the island and learning more about its past, the electrifying views from the Saddle, the hot water beach experience....simply amazing!
Written 21 January 2017
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.
hpee2014
Kawerau, New Zealand7 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
What an amazing tour to take - Phil and the crew were so informative and helpful, it was a great value for money trip. It was so beautiful to land on the island and see the work that Doc has done in making this island what it is today. The saddlebacks and kakariki were in full noise - and whop new there were pigeon out there? The skinks were fascinating in the lizard cookers.... (not really). This trip was a christmas gift to me and it is probably the best gift I have ever had. Thanks for the amazing day, capped off with a wonderful swim at McEwans bay - with the Stingrays. Majic. Thanks
Written 29 March 2015
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.
TrudiPhillips
Kawerau, New Zealand2 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
Thanks Phil, Steph and team for the amazing day out you provided for 22 of our young ones. It was a beautiful day on the water; and our young ones came home excited at the chance to experience a natural wildlife reserve, to learn about releasing kiwi, the seal colony; and the swim just topped it off! Great effort :-)
Written 25 March 2015
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.
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