Akaroa Dolphins
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Akaroa Dolphins
Your intimate dolphin experience
Welcome to Akaroa, New Zealand, one of the world’s most beautiful places. Let us take you on a journey of discovery through millions of years of fascinating history and natural heritage.
Your hosts Pip and Hugh Waghorn, Craig and Georgie Rhodes and crew look forward to hosting you aboard our stylish catamaran for the cruise of a lifetime around Akaroa Harbour.
- Akaroa Nature Cruises
- Akaroa Harbour Cruises
- Hector’s Dolphin Viewing
- Evening Cruises
- Weddings & Honeymoons
- Corporate Functions
- Private Charter
Akaroa Harbour is one of two large harbours which make up Banks Peninsula in the scenic South Island of New Zealand. A cruise with Akaroa Dolphins is the ideal way to enjoy this beautiful place.
Our stylish vessel, Into the Blue, offers guests an intimate and personal cruise experience. Our vessel is fast, stable and manoeuvrable allowing you to visit the spectacular sea caves, volcanic formations, high cliffs and bird nesting sites both within Akaroa Harbour and beyond the entrance along the Pacific Ocean coastline. A comprehensive commentary on geology, history, ecology and Maori heritage and traditions is included.
DAY CRUISES
Summer – 10.15am, 12.45pm, 3.15pm
Winter – 12.45pm and other times by arrangement
EVENING CRUISES – from 6.00pm (by arrangement)
Bookings are recommended to avoid disappointment.
Into the Blue is available for private charter by arrangement for individuals, couples, groups or families.
Complimentary wine for adults, hot and cold drinks and fresh home baking are served on board.
Details
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Organisation |
Akaroa DolphinsCommercial organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Akaroa |
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Coordinates |
Marine Animals
Dolphin Watching
Reviews
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4.5/5
Really lovely staff and beautiful scenery.
Informative and interesting commentary from the skipper.
We managed to catch a glimpse of a hectors dolphin and saw seals and little penguins.
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4.5/5
Fab boat, spectacular day, lots of interesting facts and info, saw the Hector dolphins mothers and babies, and the local seals basking in the sun.
Had a wonderful time and highly recommend.
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4.5/5
We had a really fantastic trip with Akaroa dolphins on their.
3x adults and 4 children. There were only about 20x people on the boat as it was a weekday. This made the experience as it felt like we had the boat to ourselves at times. So many spaces to sit and enjoy the cruise. We saw lots of Hector dolphins which made it so special. We also saw seals on the rocks. We were amazed by some of the beautiful scenery we got to enjoy. To top it off we were given a complimentary drink and baking and enjoyed having the dolphin trackerdog on board.. Our family loved our trip so much. Would definitely recommend. The boat appears brand new!
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5.0/5
Absolutely great trip.
We've seen a lot of hector dolphines, penguins and even seals. Great kind staff and a stunning landscappe. Absolute worth the money!!
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4.5/5
Nice two hour cruise on the open sea.
Have seen Hectors Dolphins, penguins and seals, Staff are very helpful and nice.
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5.0/5
We had a great time using this company.
The boat is modern, funky and clean with various seating options. We sat upfront - be prepared to get wet on rocky days - but this was all part of the fun! Very informative throughout and we were also entertained on board by Buster the dolphin-hearing dog. We were given a complimentary drink on arrival (wine, beer or soft) and an enormously tasty home baked cookie during the cruise. A storm had just passed through Akaroa the day before, so we were advised the cruise would be rough (TIP: If you are prone to sea sickness, purchase some Sealegs tablets from the Akaroa pharmacy at least an hour before. Worked wonders for us and ensured we enjoyed the cruise, no matter how rough the sea was). Because of the weather conditions, the route was slightly limited but we still saw plenty of seals and geographical sights. We did catch a short and unexpected glimpse of a dolphin - they just didn't want to make a big appearance that day - which is apparently quite rare. We would definitely use this company again. Great value and excellent customer service and communication to ensure the cruise still went ahead safely, despite the lingering bad weather.
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4.5/5
Small boat and friendly hosts, special dolphins and penguin detector.
Wonderful landscapes and very interesting wildlife, with 100% chance to see dolphins and seals (and sometimes penguins).
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3.0/5
Are mainly interested in doing business.
Not very helpful. Short information and too strict.
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4.5/5
Really lovely staff and beautiful scenery.
Informative and interesting commentary from the skipper.
We managed to catch a glimpse of a hectors dolphin and saw seals and little penguins.
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4.5/5
Fab boat, spectacular day, lots of interesting facts and info, saw the Hector dolphins mothers and babies, and the local seals basking in the sun.
Had a wonderful time and highly recommend.
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4.5/5
We had a really fantastic trip with Akaroa dolphins on their.
3x adults and 4 children. There were only about 20x people on the boat as it was a weekday. This made the experience as it felt like we had the boat to ourselves at times. So many spaces to sit and enjoy the cruise. We saw lots of Hector dolphins which made it so special. We also saw seals on the rocks. We were amazed by some of the beautiful scenery we got to enjoy. To top it off we were given a complimentary drink and baking and enjoyed having the dolphin trackerdog on board.. Our family loved our trip so much. Would definitely recommend. The boat appears brand new!
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5.0/5
Absolutely great trip.
We've seen a lot of hector dolphines, penguins and even seals. Great kind staff and a stunning landscappe. Absolute worth the money!!
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4.5/5
Nice two hour cruise on the open sea.
Have seen Hectors Dolphins, penguins and seals, Staff are very helpful and nice.
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4.5/5
Small boat and friendly hosts, special dolphins and penguin detector.
Wonderful landscapes and very interesting wildlife, with 100% chance to see dolphins and seals (and sometimes penguins).
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5.0/5
We had a great time using this company.
The boat is modern, funky and clean with various seating options. We sat upfront - be prepared to get wet on rocky days - but this was all part of the fun! Very informative throughout and we were also entertained on board by Buster the dolphin-hearing dog. We were given a complimentary drink on arrival (wine, beer or soft) and an enormously tasty home baked cookie during the cruise. A storm had just passed through Akaroa the day before, so we were advised the cruise would be rough (TIP: If you are prone to sea sickness, purchase some Sealegs tablets from the Akaroa pharmacy at least an hour before. Worked wonders for us and ensured we enjoyed the cruise, no matter how rough the sea was). Because of the weather conditions, the route was slightly limited but we still saw plenty of seals and geographical sights. We did catch a short and unexpected glimpse of a dolphin - they just didn't want to make a big appearance that day - which is apparently quite rare. We would definitely use this company again. Great value and excellent customer service and communication to ensure the cruise still went ahead safely, despite the lingering bad weather.
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5.0/5
Amazing and super friendly staff.
Free drinks and cookies. Family owned. Our guide was really putting an effort in to get us to see some dolphins. We saw lots of em plus seals, penguins and albatross. Definitely worth the money.
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5.0/5
Absolutely pleasant experience.
They provide complimentary wine, beer, soft drinks and cookies as promised. The crews are informative and friendly. The cruise is comfortable with toilet on board. The Dolphins are lovely and they happily swim around the cruise. Highly recommended.
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5.0/5
Awesome trip, you have to be patient, it took us three attempts to swim with the dolphins but well worth the wait.
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5.0/5
Wonderful cruise, nice people, we saw dolphins and seals.
We loved Hector, the dog on the boat, He barked when he saw or heard dolphins - so cute.
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4.0/5
You can see the worlds smartest dolphins and swim with them!
After hours in the (cold) water you get hot chocolate and back at the office you can take a hot shower! Only problem is sometimes you cannot see many dolphins but then you get some money back.
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5.0/5
Excellent cruise for our last day in NZ!
Hector dolphins, birds, penguins, seals & amazing scenery! The crew was very professional & nice, great memories before our flight!
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5.0/5
Excellent experience, we came very very close to the dolphins, very individual handled.
We recommend the guys fom Akaroa Dolphins
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5.0/5
Great nature cruise through Akaroa Harbour.
Family owned business. Incredibly friendly hosts.
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5.0/5
Excellent staff, value for money, considerate boatmanship, wonderful dolphin dog!
Altogether a great deal and worth every penny! Saw dolphins and more.
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5.0/5
Amazing trip out on the harbour.
Right from the person who sold us the ticket in the shop, through to the wonderful friendly crew on board, we could not fault the service. The scenery and wildlife were spectacular and we thoroughly enjoyed having such a wonderful commentary telling us all about the sights we were seeing. Murf Murf the dolphin dog was priceless with his ability to locate the dolphins and a wonderful addition to the trip. All in all a fabulous trip and we would highly recommend Akaroa Dolphins to anyone looking for a cruise out on Akaroa Harbour.
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4.5/5
Great service, informative captain/guide.
2 hours of fun and information - saw many dolphins.
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4.0/5
Great commentary of local history and wildlife.
Loved 'murph' the dog who can hear the dolphins coming before we saw them. Complimentary drink and homemade biscuit. Very friendly crew.
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5.0/5
Wonderful and very intimate cruise.
Only 8 on a luxury boat. We saw dolphins and other wildlife.
Very funny dog that hear the dolphins, so you are prepare to see and photograph them. The hosts are excellent and give a lot of information and give us all the time we need to enjoy the wildlife.
Highly recommended
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5.0/5
Absolutely wonderful!
They offered us a drink when we first boarded. We choose to sit at the top, and the view was amazing - a nice cosy area too. Felt like real luxury - at a really good price. I'm thinking thought that the thing that sets this service apart from all the others is the staff - super friendly and the skipper provided really brilliant commentary - Funny, and he was talking with the same level of enthusiasm you'd expect someone describing it for the first time to have - and he must have done it a million times. A++++++
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4.5/5
Nice day cruise within a beautiful environment.
Very friendly and knowledgable skipper.
