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Kaikoura - Dolphin Encounter (Watch Option)

4.9

216

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Get up close and personal to Kaikoura's incredible resident dusky dolphins in their stunning natural environment!

Highlights

Discover wild dusky dolphins in their natural element!
Learn about and enhance your understanding of dolphins
Highest success rate in NZ for locating and viewing dolphins
Amazing photo opportunities from the spacious vessel
A magical experience of a lifetime!

Encounter Kaikoura is a friendly and enthusiastic business dedicated to providing our customers with a magical experience of a lifetime!

We operate picturesque tours along the spectacular Kaikoura coastline and give you the option to swim (please see other booking option)* and interact with wild dusky dolphins or watch their playful acrobatics in the open ocean from the comfort of our boat.

Dolphin Encounter®, pioneered dolphin encounter tours in Kaikoura New Zealand in 1989/90 and have developed their tours for those wishing to enhance their understanding of dolphins in their natural environment, providing a truly unique experience!

Tours scheduled daily: We close just one day each year - Christmas Day!

Please note this booking option is for watching only, and although you will be on the same boat as swimmers you will not have the option to swim. If you would like to swim with the dolphins, please check out our swim deals: Kaikoura - Dolphin Swim Tour

Adult $115.00

Child $75.00 (3-14 years)

What's included

Return transfers between the base and harbour
Blankets on-board (for colder months)
Complimentary information pack on return from the tour

Duration

Approximately 3.5 hours (approx 2.5 on the water)

Location

Meeting Location: Encounter Kaikoura at 96 Esplanade

Notes

Check in: Please call the team to reconfirm your booking and tour operation the day prior and to receive your check in time for the following day. Please report to 96 Esplanade, Kaikoura on the day.
Please Note: Return times are not guaranteed.
Child Age is 5 - 14 years. Sea conditions on the day need to be ideal for children to participate on this tour. Children under 5 years are not permitted on this tour. The skipper reserves the right to increase the age limit on the day if they believe the conditions warrant this decision.
Please note: Our tours operate in the open ocean and we are subject to sea conditions and weather on the day of the tour. All tours are also subject to minimum numbers to operate.
Encounter Kaikoura vessels have ample seating and an onboard toilet. There are also blankets on board should these be required in the colder months.

Available Bookings from 22 Dec to 4 Jan 2025

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

Change Dates

Sun 22 Dec

Mon 23 Dec

Tue 24 Dec

Wed 25 Dec

Thu 26 Dec

Fri 27 Dec

Sat 28 Dec

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Tue 31 Dec

Wed 1 Jan

Thu 2 Jan

Fri 3 Jan

Sat 4 Jan

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Authenticated Reviews & Photos All of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

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4.9

216 reviews

Kaikoura - Dolphin Encounter (Watch Option)

Showing all 216 authenticated Bookme reviews

lisau1 from Germany wrote on 21 February 2020

Einmaliges Erlebnis ‘

Es war einfach nur toll. Wir haben etwas bereut das wir nicht auch mit den Delfinen geschwommen sind . Aber selbst nur das angucken war einfach der Hammer . Wir haben super viele gesehen und sie sind neben dem Boot her geschwommen und rum gesprungen . Die Crew war super nett und die Tiere schienen Spaß dran zu haben und kamen von alleine zum Boot geschwommen . Einfach ein tolles Erlebnis ! Wir kommen wieder und werden dann mit den Delfinen schwimmen .

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alexp1 from Germany wrote on 18 February 2020

Mega!

Tolle Erfahrung. Tolles nettes Team. Sehr tierlieb ohne hupen oder verfolgen! Entweder die Delphine kommen oder nicht.

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Feli from Germany wrote on 29 December 2019

Delfine wunderschön, viele Passagiere seekrank

Die Tour war gut. Wir waren nah an den Delfinen und konnten sogar Albatrosse sehen. Leider war das Boot sehr klein und dadurch schauklich - zum Schluss mussten sich bestimmt 70% aller Passagiere übergeben, da so hohe Wellen waren. Aber die Crew war sehr professionell und hat sich sehr gut um die Passagiere gekümmert - Vielen Dank und großen Respekt hierfür! Aber wir konnten die Fahrt durch unsere Seekrankheit leider nur halb genießen und würden und eine Teilnahme an einer solchen Fahrt in Zukunft wohl zweimal überlegen... Das Erlebnis war aber ein unvergessliches!

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klausp from Germany wrote on 10 November 2019

Tolles Erlebnis

Gut organisiert, wir haben jede Menge Delfine gesehen. Die Besatzung war sehr freundlich.

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Celine Daum from Germany wrote on 16 May 2016

Absolut empfehlenswert!

Ich habe meinen Trip sehe genossen, alles war gut organisiert und die Mitarbeiter waren sehr freundlich und haben oft nachgefragt, ob alles gut ist. Denn erstaunlich viele wurden seekrank... Es ist eben das offene Meer und kein See :) Wir hatten wirklich viel Zeit zum Fotografieren und ich hatte das Boot fast für mich allein, da alle anderen schwimmen sind. Eine tolle Erfahrung! :)

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Bookme Help Terms & Conditions Operators

10:00 a.m.Thursday 13 July

Adult

Child ^* 3-14 years

^*This option must be made together with another price type.

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The Qualmark Bronze award recognizes a business that operates with a high level of professionalism, is mindful of its environmental impact, and is dedicated to putting customers first.