Make a date with the worlds smallest, rarest and friendliest dolphins only on Akaroa Harbour. There is only one place on the planet where you can swim with Hector Dolphins also known as the New Zealand Dolphin and that is the beautiful sheltered Akaroa Harbour.
Highlights
- Swim with the rare and beautiful Hector's dolphins on this once in a lifetime experience
- Enjoy a 2-hour cruise by a heated jet powered catamaran
- Receive a 30-minute briefing on how to interact with the dolphins before spending 1-hour with these beautiful creatures
- Includes wetsuit, mask and snorkel equipment
- Small and intimate experience, only 10 swimmers permitted per vessel
Useful Information
Swimming with Dolphins in Akaroa
Akoroa Harbour is a sheltered harbor, a flooded crater of an extinct volcano surrounded by awe-inspiring volcanic cliffs. With a group limit of 10 people per vessel the Akaroa swimming with dolphins tour means it will be an even more intimate experience.
The two-hour dolphin tour is very popular due to the limited number of passengers permitted per departure. Book now to avoid disappointment.
You will be guaranteed a safe and memorable dolphin swim.
The 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.
Dolphin Sightseeing Guarantee - If you see dolphins but for some reason do not get to swim with them then receive a part refund. NZ$100 refund if no dolphins are found and a NZ$50 refund if dolphins found but you are unable to swim with them. In the last 12 months we saw dolphins on 98% of our cruises and had successful swims on 81%.
- All crew are highly trained. This means that you'll get a great briefing on how to interact with the dolphins and what to expect prior to your journey. They'll also give you safety instructions to allow you to enjoy your experience. If you are new to snorkeling and use of a wetsuit your crew will be on hand to help you out.
- All equipment is provided including wetsuit, masks and snorkel. You only have to bring a swimming costume and a towel. With hot showers available.
- The vessel is a heated, covered, jet powered catamaran. It's safer for you and the dolphins because there are no propellers. It's also heated so after your swim you can warm up quickly in the cabin.
Reviewed by Isabella C, April 2013
We had a great time. The sights are amazing and the guides were helpful. The water was a little brisk, but the wetsuits were fine. The dolphins came around, but weren't very interested in sticking around very long with us that day, but we still enjoyed ourselves. We were very happy with the experience, but the guides said it wasn't a full enough of an adventure and gave us a partial refund! Great experience.
Reviewed by Sas, December 2012
This was an incredible trip. We got to swim with quite a few dolphins and the guide was very informative. The dolphins were swimming right up to us and then around us. I wasn't scared at all even in the deep water. We were in the water for about 45 mins. You get thick wetsuites so you don't get cold
