|
Email a Friend 
You will see
- Akaroa Harbour
- Hopefully the Hector's Dolphin
- Stunning coastal scenery
From Cruise Port: Akaroa-Christchurch
This amazing marine experience begins when you check in at our base on the Akaroa Wharf. You will be provided with wet suit, mask and snorkels and a full briefing before we embark on our Dolphin Cruise.
We should be on the water for approximately two hours, as the experienced crew take you to the most common spots in Akaroa Harbour to find the Dolphins, or more often than not, the Dolphins find us!
Our small group of up to just 24 persons makes this a very personal experience. With just 12 persons on board allowed to swim with the Dolphins, you will have a true wildlife encounter. Though nature being what it is, we can not guarantee 100% that we will encounter these amazing creatures.
The Akaroa Harbour is the flooded crater of an extinct volcano, set within picturesque Banks Peninsula. Apart from the huge and awe-inspiring volcanic cliffs, this also means that the harbour is very sheltered. A lot of the time, especially in summer, your dolphin encounter will be inside the sheltered harbour.You'll be swimming with the world's smallest dolphins in the world's largest ocean!
You should be able to spend up to 45 minutes in the water if you wish, getting close to the dolphins as they play in the waters around our boat. Are we watching them or are they watching us!
We head back to the wharf after our experience where hot showers and hot drinks await. This will be one of the highlights of any holiday in New Zealand.
From Cruise Port: Akaroa-Christchurch
Included
- Hot showers and hot chocolate
- Wetsuits, masks and snorkels.
Not Included
- Any meals
- Swim costume and towels
Instructions
- A basic level of fitness is required. You will be floating in the water and will be required to swim to and from the boat - distances up to 50 metres [150 feet] at a time.
- If you do not want to swim with the Dolphins, then our Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise AKA11 offers this option.
- In the unlikely event that we do not see any Dolphins, then a refund of $80 per adult will be given.
- Should you not be able to swim with the Dolphins, a $50 refund will be given.
- You can hire or purchase a towel from us if you forget to bring one.
Restrictions
- Children must be at least 8 years old to swim with the Dolphins
- Customers must declare any pre-existing medical conditions which may limit your participation.
- If you have members of your group who are booking the "watching" option AKA10 then please give their details in the notes section when you enquire.
- If you want to accompany family and friends on this tour but do not want to swim with the Dolphins yourself, then you can book seats on our Dolphin Watching option AKA-10, but the number of non-swimming places are limited.
- Please note children under the age of 12 need to have an adult swimming in the water with them.
Standard Tour Schedule Options | ||
|---|---|---|
| start time | end time | |
| Akaroa Dolphin swim - 9.30am departure | 09:30 | 12:00 |
| Akaroa Dolphin swim 12.30pm departure | 12:30 | 15:00 |
| Note: Start and end times may be revised to suit ETA / ETD of ship in port | ||
Standard Tour Prices (current) | |
|---|---|
| Adult price | NZ $219.00 |
| Child price (5 to 15 yrs) | NZ $189.00 |
Exclusive Tour Prices (current) | |
|---|---|
| Tour Duration | 3.00 hrs |
Exclusive Tour Prices | |
| 8 persons | NZ $2,628.00 |
| 9 persons | NZ $2,628.00 |
| 10 persons | NZ $2,628.00 |
| 11 persons | NZ $2,628.00 |
| 12 persons | NZ $2,628.00 |
NOTE: Prices may vary depending on your Date of Travel.
Our Booking procedures quote the applicable prices before you commit to a Booking.
We went out on the 8.30am Swim with Dolphins boat. Hannah was the skipper and Alister was the crewman. We cruised out past the Akaroa Heads, but found no Hector's Dolphins that wanted to play. On the way back we encountered some that came up to the boat, so we all quietly entered the water and waited for them to come back. Within 5 minutes the first group swam up to, around and through our group, coming within a metre of us. Then for the next 30 minutes we were entertained by various groups all coming to check us out. Alister took photos of the interaction from the boat, which can be purchased back at the wharf. After spending the maximum allowable time in the water with the dolphins, we were taken to a seal colony where there were many seal pups playing on the rocks. Then it was time to return to the dock. Great trip, excellent staff and equipment.
GDoubleu, via TripAdvisor [Mar 18]
Angie S, via TripAdvisor [Apr 18]
3jacintaw, via TripAdvisor [Apr 18]
What do I need to bring with me?
Bring your swimming costumes and a towel. If you have a camera and one that works in the water that would be great. Sunblock are not essential but advisable. We provide a wet suit, mask, snorkel, booties, gloves and a hood if necessary. You can hire or purchase a towel from us if you forget to bring one.
Do I need to be able to swim?
YES, this is an important requirement. You should be confident in the water and capable to swim at least 50 metres. If you cannot swim you can still join us on the boat to watch. You will be swimming in the open waters of the harbour and ocean so a degree of confidence in swimming is required.
What happens if no dolphins are sighted, or we see them but can't swim with them
We see dolphins on 98% of our cruises, however if you fall into the very unfortunate 2% we have a very generous refund policy of $80. This means you get $80 of your money back if no dolphins are seen. We have a successful swim rate of 83%, however if you fall into the unlucky 17% of people who get to see the dolphins but not swim with them then you will receive a $50 refund.
Will I be able to touch the dolphins?
No, you will not be able to do this as the dolphins have extremely sensitive skin and a slight touch may bruise or hurt the dolphin.
Are the dolphins wild?
Yes these dolphins are completely wild, one of the real joys of this experience.
Do we feed them?
No, again we have to respect their natural existence and not disturb their natural diet and feeding habits.
What are the age restrictions?
If you are swimming you must be at least 8 years old. But children between 8 and 12 inclusive must also be accompanied by an adult swimmer. there is no age restriction if you are booking a non-swimming option.
Are there sharks?
We have been operating dolphin swimming for 20 years now and have never had a problem with sharks. Generally if there are sharks around then the dolphins will be nowhere to be seen.
How cold is the water?
This does change according to the season, in the summer the water temperature is usually around 17 degrees Celsius, in winter it can reduce to around 11 degrees. The wet suits will keep you warm in the water and after the swim you can also wear booties, gloves and hoodies.
What if I have a Disability
The following provides a guideline to those of our customers who have a physical disability. We can cater for customers who are blind or have a loss of a limb. For those with a mental illness we have never had any issues in the past provided there is good support from friends and family.
We do not recommend swimming with dolphins for those with a disability, however, if you have a strong support swimmer and have experience swimming in the ocean than it can be done. We also have life jackets on hand as well as the wet suits which provide flotation. At the end of the day the skipper and crew will make a decision based on sea conditions. If we feel safety is compromised then a swim will not be possible. For those in wheelchairs some mobility is required to board the vessel.
Do you have approval to swim with the dolphins?
Yes and we were was the first company in the world in our sector of tourism to get the coveted Green Globe 21, this is an international program to ensure the best environmental practices. We are also DOC approved and have an Enviro-gold certification from Qualmark, New Zealand's quality standard for tourism operators.
Is there a toilet on board?
Yes there is
Are Lifejackets available for swimmers?
Not for swimmers but you are supplied with wetsuits that will allow you to float.
