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Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa
4.5
Full view
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa

By Black Cat Cruises
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.
from
$134.36
per adult
from
$134.36
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
Features animals
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 hrs out on the water)
  • Wetsuit and mask (for those swimming)
  • Hot Beverage
  • Includes a full, live commentary from skipper
  • Hot Shower Facilities
What's not included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Departure details
  • 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
Return details
  • Returns to original departure 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
  • Not suitable for infants or children under 8
  • Children between 8yrs and 12yrs must be accompanied by an adult swimmer.
  • Children between 13yrs and 16yrs must be accompanied by an adult watcher.
  • Please note to join this activity you need to be able to swim a minimum of 50 meters unaided and be confident in open sea conditions.
  • Akaroa is ideally situated, only a 90 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.
  • Dolphin Sightseeing Guarantee - In the event of “partial swim” (dolphins are viewed from the boat but swimmers do not get into the water; or swimmers do not get full interaction while in the water as determined by Black Cat skipper & crew) Black Cat will refund 25% of fare. If no dolphins are seen, Black Cat will refund 50% of fare.
  • Life jackets are not provided or used, if one is required this product is not suitable, please join our Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise.
  • You can only book to watch a swim when travelling with a swimmer
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
How much is Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa?
Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa price starts from $133.94. Discover and book Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa on Tripadvisor
What is the Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa cancellation policy?
Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa on Tripadvisor
Which company provides Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa?
Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa is hosted by Black Cat Cruises. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Black Cat Cruises on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa on Tripadvisor
How much time do I need for Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa?
On average, this experience will take approximately 3h. Discover and book Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa on Tripadvisor
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
About the operator

Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.

By: Black Cat Cruises
1,498
JuneL1042
JuneL1042
00
Good Trip
Seeing the wildlife. It was quite quiet out in the bay and we only saw one hector dolphin feeding and a few seals o…
Lovnlife59
Lovnlife59
00
Dolphin magic
Black Cat team went over and above to make our cruise a magical memory. As an avid dolphin lover the swimming with…
A5234FXrichards
A5234FXrichards
00
Delightful morning cruise
We were able to see dolphins, penguins, other birds, fur seals, interesting geological formations. Great commentary…
mwj49SanDiego
mwj49SanDiego
00
A day in Akaroa
Great cruise, informative staff and an exquisite town. We saw seals and a variety of wildlife. The skipper was very…
NelsonNZ
NelsonNZ
00
Not as I expected
I had been really looking forward to our boat trip to see the dolphins as I had been reading about it for a long ti…
STapsuwan
STapsuwan
00
Great day out on the water
My friend and I had a great time on the tour. We were so luck to see dolphins, penguins and baby seals on this trip…
carmel b
carmel b
00
A great morning on The Black Cat
The trip out onto Akaroa Harbour on The Black Cat was beautiful. It is a well maintained vessel which was skippered…
patsK296OG
patsK296OG
00
Akaroa harbour cruise
Highly recommended. Very well organized and professionally ran. Saw heaps of wildlife. Only minor disappointment we…
EMILYMURCI
EMILYMURCI
00
Great experience
Wonderful cruise, great staff. Had a family cruise given to me as a voucher. The best experience we've had as a fam…
Jones1955
Jones1955
00
Blue pinguins
What a beautiful day on the water. Lots of wildlife! Porpoise pinguins fur seals sheep! Knowledgable guide and capt…
donnabB6442GE
donnabB6442GE
00
Day trip to Akaroa
The stunning beauty of cliffs, caves and the blue water. Seal pups so cute!!! Only saw 1 penguin but was very cute.…
aotearoanz
aotearoanz
00
Excellent experience
The staff are friendly and welcoming and very professional. The whole experience is fabulous. Captain Hamish was p…
609melisaw
609melisaw
00
Nature cruise
Fantastic, honest staff who supplied a great experience all round, even though we weren't able to swim with the dol…
Mimi-and-Steve
Mimi-and-Steve
00
Great experience - highly recommended.
We are avid wildlife & natural history travellers and as such have done many tours and trips around the world based…
ONeil_11
ONeil_11
00
great expeience
The staff went out of their way to give us a great experience. It could have been ordinary but they searched out op…
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
131 reviews
Excellent
106
Very good
8
Average
6
Poor
7
Terrible
4
goodwinfamily111
Cardiff, UK7 contributions
Responsible eco-tourism at its best
Well organised trip around spectacular Akaroa harbour with amazing views of enchanting Hectors dolphins from on board followed by two lengthy swims with them. Unique and very special experience.
The wet suits provided were 5mm neoprene and allowed us to keep comfortable for the full time in the water. Also very buoyant so we didn’t get tired while in the water. The crew were really sensible and skipper Chris only allowed us in the water once he was happy the dolphins were confident with our presence- we passed by many small pods that came and went before we got in the water.
The whole experience was magical and we left feeling the animals had come to inspect us on their terms, not been coerced in any way.
Strongly recommend you support this venture which puts a proper value on responsible tourism in a very special marine reserve.
Written January 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Vicki D
9 contributions
No swim but great trip anyway
Mar 2023 • Couples
We were told that there had been plentiful sightings of dolphins on the morning boat though they hadn’t been able to swim with them and we were offered chance to cancel. We chose to go just in case, so we donned kit and set off. We did spit a few dolphins but not enough to swim with.

We were refunded 50% on our return but the boat trip was still worthwhile and we did get to see a few Hectors dolphins (plus some other wildlife - seals and albatrosses). Shame not to swim but great experience from start to finish.
Written March 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
T_Cross2013
Memphis, TN16 contributions
Best excursion of our trip!
Mar 2023
We had an amazing time during our dolphin excursion! Sonya at the desk and Thomas our guide on the boat went above and beyond to make the trip unforgettable. We were told going out that the Hectors Dolphins don't usually jump, but saw a pair of them doing leaps in the water. While floating a couple came to check out Jane and circled her once or twice.

Highly recommend this for everyone!
Written March 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lindsey H
2 contributions
Great experience in Akaroa, NZ
Jan 2020
My husband and I chose to swim with the Hector dolphins with Black Cat Cruises while on our honeymoon to NZ. We were very impressed with all staff members we encountered and the overall organization of the facility/operation. Our swim met all our expectations as we understand the animals seen are truly wild animals and therefore unpredictable. We encountered several small pods of dolphins which were interested in the boat, swam near the boat for a while, interacted with us for a few minutes, then swam off. Our guides were excellent at finding nearby pods when the current pod lost interest in us humans. Due to the "lack" of interest the dolphins had, our guide ensured all passengers received a 25% refund as promised when dolphins are a little less participatory than usual. The accountability and honesty Black Cat Cruises upheld was impressive and validated our choice of a reputable company to book our tour with. Additionally, our guides were very knowledgeable about the wildlife in the area and demonstrated true concern for the overall well-being of the exquisite ecosystem Akaroa has to offer.

When we completed our swim, the waters were very cold and as an individual with a circulation condition, I would highly recommend the staff offer gloves to passengers in the future if at all possible. (Although I was a competitive swimmer my entire life and am used to differing water temperatures, my fingers turned entirely white and numb from the tips to the second knuckle after a short time in the water).
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Black Cat
Hi W2865KGlindseym, thanks so much for taking the time to review us on TripAdvisor. We really appreciate your feedback regarding gloves and will pass this on to our operations team at our next monthly meeting! Despite the dolphins being a little shy, it sounds like you still had a brilliant time out on the water! We hope you can come out with us again soon.
Written March 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Calum M
52 contributions
Amazing experience swimming with wild Hector's Dolphins with great guides!
Dec 2019
From the outset it is made clear that the staff at Black Cat really care for the dolphins and their future. No promises are made that you will see anything and the importance of not touching them is enforced due to the dolphin's sensitive skin that can be torn with even a sharp nail.

The boat ride through and out of the bay was great fun in itself, I highly recommend standing out on the bow to enjoy the waves and views!

It was great fun helping our guides Kate and Harry to spot the dorsal fins of the dolphins popping up to get an idea where they were.

We managed to get a great swim with around 14 of them at one point, also managing to see an albatross, fur seal and a penguin!

Kate and Harry were very informative and were just as excited as us to see the Dolphins even though they get to do it every day which made the experience that much better.

Couldn't recommend this tour enough, brilliant day out!
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Black Cat
Hi Calum M, wow thank you so much for your amazing review of your tour - Swimming with Dolphins! I'll certainly pass your lovely feedback on to Harry and Kate, they will be thrilled! Sounds like you had a brilliant day out, 14 Hector's dolphins would have been just magic! I hope you can come out on another tour with us again soon.
Written March 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
healthcarestartup
Auckland, New Zealand6 contributions
Kiwi magic
Jan 2021
Really magical morning on the water, with our crew a lovely combination of high professionalism and practical kiwi character. We bought the swim with dolphins as a Christmas treat for our kids. What we got was an atmospheric trip out of the harbour and along the coast in a gentle rolling swell spotting dolphins and their calves, seals, and albatross. Twin hull boat was very stable and uses jets instead of props to protect the dolphins. We were at last approached by 2 groups of dolphins as we were heading back and our skipper Chris and crew Lily ran over schedule in order to get us 2 swims with every passenger getting a close fly by from the curious Hectors. A couple (Hectors not humans) even showed off with a bit of aerial gymnastics. Back to base across a glassy clear harbour in full sun. The whole experience left us all with a huge buzz and wanting more.
Written January 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Black Cat
Hi healthcarestartup, We really appreciate your wonderful review of our Swimming with Dolphins excursion. It is always so wonderful to hear about our customer's experiences and understand what it is that they appreciate the most about the trip. Thanks for taking the time! Come back and see us again soon!
Written April 12, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
nzjazz
Nelson, New Zealand1 contribution
Close encounter with dolphins
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 December 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Clancy J
10 contributions
Must do in Akaroa
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 December 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Georgia F
5 contributions
Once in a life time experience!
Jan 2020 • Couples
We had an unbelievable trip with black cat cruises to see the hector dolphin, Harry and Hannah were especially brilliant they had top knowledge and were super friendly. We saw a mother and baby dolphin followed by swimming with 12 dolphins, truly amazing both on and off the boat. Would recommend the 6.30am trip, it’s painfully early but well worth it.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Black Cat
Hi georgiafrost4, thanks for reviewing us on TripAdvisor - we appreciate it so much! Sounds like you had magic day out on the water with Harry and Hannah - I'll make sure to pass on your feedback to them. Awww amazing you got to see a mother and baby, that's so cool and such a treat! We hope you can come out with us again soon!
Written March 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Beccah E.
5 contributions
Not what is advertised
Jan 2020 • Couples
We unfortunately did not get to swim with any dolphins, which is not the fault of the company, as the dolphins are wild and unpredictable. But the low rating comes from the lack of adequate advertising. IF the dolphins chose to come near you, you aren’t really swimming with them. You wade water and cross your fingers that they come near you. Don’t expect to see them underwater, it’s only what you can see above water. Also, the description says it’s a 3 hour tour and you’ll be in the water for 2...that actually means one hour of instructions and getting ready, 2 hours on the boat, and about 15 minutes in the water. Also, the nice, warm showers is a communal room of shower heads. Hope you enjoy stripping down in front of strangers! Not worth the money for a small chance to be in the water at the same time dolphins are nearby. Look for something else.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Black Cat
Hi TNtoNZ, thanks for taking the time to review us on TripAdvisor. We are sorry that the tour did not meet your expectation and will certainly take your feedback on board. One of things we pride our tours on, is that the experience is completely in the wild and on the terms of the dolphin, hence we cannot guarantee that the dolphins will come up to you. We hope you can come out with us again soon.
Written March 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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2023 Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa (w/Photos)