Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura
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Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura
Swim with and watch wild dolphins in Kaikoura
The Dolphin Encounter tour is a boat based tour that takes you to swim with or watch the acrobatic dusky dolphins along the Kaikoura coastline. An incredible tour and a "must do" during your time New Zealand!
Details
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Organisation |
Encounter KaikouraCommercial organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura |
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Marine Animals
Dolphin Watching
Reviews
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5.0/5
Incredible experience swimming amongst a super pod of dusky dolphins.
Small boat with small number of participants made this a very special experience. Staff and crew were excellent.
Cannot recommend highly enough, worth every cent.
L![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(159,136,146)" /><path d="m 150 656 Q 150 150 -356 150 Q 150 150 150 -356 Q 150 150 656 150 Q 150 150 150 656 z" fill="rgb(34,13,119)" /><path d="m 150 353 Q 46 254 -53 150 Q 46 46 150 -53 Q 254 46 353 150 Q 254 254 150 353 z" fill="rgb(221,242,136)" /><path d="m 150 144 Q 51 249 156 150 Q 51 51 150 156 Q 249 51 144 150 Q 249 249 150 144 z" fill="rgb(96,119,109)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Good and informative service.
Professional staff that make you feel comfortable, safe and well taken care of at all times. Very cold water!! But absolutely wonderful experience swimming with the dolphins and seals.
MH![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(141,0,115)" /><path d="m 150 613 Q 198 102 -313 150 Q 198 198 150 -313 Q 102 198 613 150 Q 102 102 150 613 z" fill="rgb(13,244,9)" /><path d="m 150 541 Q 124 176 -241 150 Q 124 124 150 -241 Q 176 124 541 150 Q 176 176 150 541 z" fill="rgb(242,11,246)" /><path d="m 150 327 Q 136 164 -27 150 Q 136 136 150 -27 Q 164 136 327 150 Q 164 164 150 327 z" fill="rgb(114,255,140)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
It was a great experience.
The people there are very kind and well organised. Cost $169 for swimming with the dolphins.
SZ![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(62,57,62)" /><path d="m 150 694 Q 288 12 -394 150 Q 288 288 150 -394 Q 12 288 694 150 Q 12 12 150 694 z" fill="rgb(120,132,9)" /><path d="m 150 475 Q 173 127 -175 150 Q 173 173 150 -175 Q 127 173 475 150 Q 127 127 150 475 z" fill="rgb(135,123,246)" /><path d="m 150 137 Q 221 79 163 150 Q 221 221 150 163 Q 79 221 137 150 Q 79 79 150 137 z" fill="rgb(193,198,193)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Unforgettable experience, nice employees, great photo opportunities, nice to see the animals in the wild.
Seasickness! But the employees did care for us.
F![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(0,99,221)" /><path d="m 150 541 Q 129 171 -241 150 Q 129 129 150 -241 Q 171 129 541 150 Q 171 171 150 541 z" fill="rgb(71,247,50)" /><path d="m 150 515 Q 185 115 -215 150 Q 185 185 150 -215 Q 115 185 515 150 Q 115 115 150 515 z" fill="rgb(184,8,205)" /><path d="m 150 251 Q 223 77 49 150 Q 223 223 150 49 Q 77 223 251 150 Q 77 77 150 251 z" fill="rgb(255,156,34)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Absolutely amazing but really expensive, something to have one time in life.
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4.5/5
Well organised, saw a lot of dolphins, long time in the water, bad weather conditions.
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5.0/5
Didn't get to experience it as access to Kaikoura was cut off after the earthquake.
Called in to cancel our reservation and it was very fuss free. Thumbs up to the staff! Will definitely return to try it in future!
JW![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(97,241,121)" /><path d="m 150 692 Q 153 147 -392 150 Q 153 153 150 -392 Q 147 153 692 150 Q 147 147 150 692 z" fill="rgb(80,49,211)" /><path d="m 150 483 Q 210 90 -183 150 Q 210 210 150 -183 Q 90 210 483 150 Q 90 90 150 483 z" fill="rgb(175,206,44)" /><path d="m 150 102 Q 299 1 198 150 Q 299 299 150 198 Q 1 299 102 150 Q 1 1 150 102 z" fill="rgb(158,14,134)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Perfect = equipment was new, size of the boat, number of swimmers, respect of wildlife, time of the trip was comparable for the price.
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3.0/5
Quite pricey, we had really horrible weather and the sea was not great, but we didn't have much choice but to go as they were operating and we'd already paid.
The staff who handed out the wetsuits kept giving wrong sizes and even after we asked for a specific size they gave a different one that what we'd asked for, so suiting up wasn't a pleasant experience. I wasn't able to complete the swim as it was way too much for me and the waves were shocking. They did however refund my money and charge me a spectator rate. I think this would be a really wonderful experience in good weather, so I suggest you plan your swim around the weather.
C![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(115,22,109)" /><path d="m 150 579 Q 173 127 -279 150 Q 173 173 150 -279 Q 127 173 579 150 Q 127 127 150 579 z" fill="rgb(143,66,255)" /><path d="m 150 389 Q 87 213 -89 150 Q 87 87 150 -89 Q 213 87 389 150 Q 213 213 150 389 z" fill="rgb(112,189,0)" /><path d="m 150 327 Q 216 84 -27 150 Q 216 216 150 -27 Q 84 216 327 150 Q 84 84 150 327 z" fill="rgb(140,233,146)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Fabulous!
200 dolphins, a lot of interaction with them. Long time in the water so worth the money!
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5.0/5
We did the tour at 5:30am, when the Dusky Dolphins were very lively and playful.
The most enchanting thing I did in my life. The only negative is that the people in the water is too much.
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4.5/5
It was so amazing to swim with wild dolphins in the sea and totally worth the $170 and throwing up!
DW![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(82,87,130)" /><path d="m 150 701 Q 276 24 -401 150 Q 276 276 150 -401 Q 24 276 701 150 Q 24 24 150 701 z" fill="rgb(72,13,62)" /><path d="m 150 546 Q 239 61 -246 150 Q 239 239 150 -246 Q 61 239 546 150 Q 61 61 150 546 z" fill="rgb(183,242,193)" /><path d="m 150 215 Q 106 194 85 150 Q 106 106 150 85 Q 194 106 215 150 Q 194 194 150 215 z" fill="rgb(173,168,125)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Breathtaking experience!!
Professional, experienced organisation. One minor issue: groups were too big. Besides that, a thumbs up!!
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(226,101,59)" /><path d="m 150 646 Q 205 95 -346 150 Q 205 205 150 -346 Q 95 205 646 150 Q 95 95 150 646 z" fill="rgb(135,110,123)" /><path d="m 150 414 Q 87 213 -114 150 Q 87 87 150 -114 Q 213 87 414 150 Q 213 213 150 414 z" fill="rgb(120,145,132)" /><path d="m 150 346 Q 204 96 -46 150 Q 204 204 150 -46 Q 96 204 346 150 Q 96 96 150 346 z" fill="rgb(29,154,196)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(168,95,252)" /><path d="m 150 609 Q 120 180 -309 150 Q 120 120 150 -309 Q 180 120 609 150 Q 180 180 150 609 z" fill="rgb(24,94,182)" /><path d="m 150 362 Q 279 21 -62 150 Q 279 279 150 -62 Q 21 279 362 150 Q 21 21 150 362 z" fill="rgb(231,161,73)" /><path d="m 150 267 Q 192 108 33 150 Q 192 192 150 33 Q 108 192 267 150 Q 108 108 150 267 z" fill="rgb(87,160,3)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(148,129,224)" /><path d="m 150 705 Q 240 60 -405 150 Q 240 240 150 -405 Q 60 240 705 150 Q 60 60 150 705 z" fill="rgb(198,183,23)" /><path d="m 150 477 Q 144 156 -177 150 Q 144 144 150 -177 Q 156 144 477 150 Q 156 156 150 477 z" fill="rgb(57,72,232)" /><path d="m 150 163 Q 110 190 137 150 Q 110 110 150 137 Q 190 110 163 150 Q 190 190 150 163 z" fill="rgb(107,126,31)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(248,30,153)" /><path d="m 150 696 Q 220 80 -396 150 Q 220 220 150 -396 Q 80 220 696 150 Q 80 80 150 696 z" fill="rgb(123,11,141)" /><path d="m 150 401 Q 102 198 -101 150 Q 102 102 150 -101 Q 198 102 401 150 Q 198 198 150 401 z" fill="rgb(132,244,114)" /><path d="m 150 322 Q 276 24 -22 150 Q 276 276 150 -22 Q 24 276 322 150 Q 24 24 150 322 z" fill="rgb(7,225,102)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(239,138,90)" /><path d="m 150 686 Q 218 82 -386 150 Q 218 218 150 -386 Q 82 218 686 150 Q 82 82 150 686 z" fill="rgb(129,195,208)" /><path d="m 150 312 Q 187 113 -12 150 Q 187 187 150 -12 Q 113 187 312 150 Q 113 113 150 312 z" fill="rgb(126,60,47)" /><path d="m 150 105 Q 220 80 195 150 Q 220 220 150 195 Q 80 220 105 150 Q 80 80 150 105 z" fill="rgb(16,117,165)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(166,125,214)" /><path d="m 150 650 Q 144 156 -350 150 Q 144 144 150 -350 Q 156 144 650 150 Q 156 156 150 650 z" fill="rgb(151,193,232)" /><path d="m 150 373 Q 96 204 -73 150 Q 96 96 150 -73 Q 204 96 373 150 Q 204 204 150 373 z" fill="rgb(104,62,23)" /><path d="m 150 329 Q 213 87 -29 150 Q 213 213 150 -29 Q 87 213 329 150 Q 87 87 150 329 z" fill="rgb(89,130,41)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(38,74,224)" /><path d="m 150 569 Q 111 189 -269 150 Q 111 111 150 -269 Q 189 111 569 150 Q 189 189 150 569 z" fill="rgb(0,14,172)" /><path d="m 150 447 Q 270 30 -147 150 Q 270 270 150 -147 Q 30 270 447 150 Q 30 30 150 447 z" fill="rgb(255,241,83)" /><path d="m 150 314 Q 150 150 -14 150 Q 150 150 150 -14 Q 150 150 314 150 Q 150 150 150 314 z" fill="rgb(217,181,31)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(226,198,14)" /><path d="m 150 526 Q 59 241 -226 150 Q 59 59 150 -226 Q 241 59 526 150 Q 241 241 150 526 z" fill="rgb(98,36,21)" /><path d="m 150 473 Q 147 153 -173 150 Q 147 147 150 -173 Q 153 147 473 150 Q 153 153 150 473 z" fill="rgb(157,219,234)" /><path d="m 150 314 Q 227 73 -14 150 Q 227 227 150 -14 Q 73 227 314 150 Q 73 73 150 314 z" fill="rgb(29,57,241)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Incredible experience swimming amongst a super pod of dusky dolphins.
Small boat with small number of participants made this a very special experience. Staff and crew were excellent.
Cannot recommend highly enough, worth every cent.
L -
4.5/5
Good and informative service.
Professional staff that make you feel comfortable, safe and well taken care of at all times. Very cold water!! But absolutely wonderful experience swimming with the dolphins and seals.
MH -
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4.5/5
Absolutely amazing but really expensive, something to have one time in life.
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4.5/5
Unforgettable experience, nice employees, great photo opportunities, nice to see the animals in the wild.
Seasickness! But the employees did care for us.
F -
5.0/5
It was a great experience.
The people there are very kind and well organised. Cost $169 for swimming with the dolphins.
SZ -
4.5/5
Well organised, saw a lot of dolphins, long time in the water, bad weather conditions.
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5.0/5
Fabulous!
200 dolphins, a lot of interaction with them. Long time in the water so worth the money!
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5.0/5
We did the tour at 5:30am, when the Dusky Dolphins were very lively and playful.
The most enchanting thing I did in my life. The only negative is that the people in the water is too much.
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4.5/5
Breathtaking experience!!
Professional, experienced organisation. One minor issue: groups were too big. Besides that, a thumbs up!!
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5.0/5
Perfect = equipment was new, size of the boat, number of swimmers, respect of wildlife, time of the trip was comparable for the price.
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5.0/5
Didn't get to experience it as access to Kaikoura was cut off after the earthquake.
Called in to cancel our reservation and it was very fuss free. Thumbs up to the staff! Will definitely return to try it in future!
JW -
3.0/5
Quite pricey, we had really horrible weather and the sea was not great, but we didn't have much choice but to go as they were operating and we'd already paid.
The staff who handed out the wetsuits kept giving wrong sizes and even after we asked for a specific size they gave a different one that what we'd asked for, so suiting up wasn't a pleasant experience. I wasn't able to complete the swim as it was way too much for me and the waves were shocking. They did however refund my money and charge me a spectator rate. I think this would be a really wonderful experience in good weather, so I suggest you plan your swim around the weather.
C -
4.5/5
It was so amazing to swim with wild dolphins in the sea and totally worth the $170 and throwing up!
DW -
5.0/5
Had an amazing time swimming with dolphins, they literally swim around you.
It was incredible.
JL![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(111,55,18)" /><path d="m 150 575 Q 259 41 -275 150 Q 259 259 150 -275 Q 41 259 575 150 Q 41 41 150 575 z" fill="rgb(184,238,79)" /><path d="m 150 382 Q 278 22 -82 150 Q 278 278 150 -82 Q 22 278 382 150 Q 22 22 150 382 z" fill="rgb(71,17,176)" /><path d="m 150 258 Q 139 161 42 150 Q 139 139 150 42 Q 161 139 258 150 Q 161 161 150 258 z" fill="rgb(144,200,237)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
A fantastic experience to swim with the wild dolphins, staff were really nice, also we made a short trip to see other marine life.
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5.0/5
Quite cold, but we did swim with heaps of dolphins, definitely one of the highlights of travelling.
NK![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(148,96,132)" /><path d="m 150 667 Q 240 60 -367 150 Q 240 240 150 -367 Q 60 240 667 150 Q 60 60 150 667 z" fill="rgb(10,98,117)" /><path d="m 150 422 Q 175 125 -122 150 Q 175 175 150 -122 Q 125 175 422 150 Q 125 125 150 422 z" fill="rgb(245,157,138)" /><path d="m 150 171 Q 60 240 129 150 Q 60 60 150 129 Q 240 60 171 150 Q 240 240 150 171 z" fill="rgb(107,159,123)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
One of the most beautiful experiences in my life!!
The staff were friendly and the dolphins were amazing! Take some medication with you if you tend to get seasick.
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5.0/5
Very well organised company: great location, easy to find, lots of parking space available.
Literally everything is taken care of, from a dry wetsuit to anti fog spray and hot showers. Once in a lifetime experience, but do not forget to bring your sea sickness pills because you really need them when the sea is a bit rough. It might seem a bit expensive but it is truly worth the money!
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(50,131,69)" /><path d="m 150 566 Q 138 162 -266 150 Q 138 138 150 -266 Q 162 138 566 150 Q 162 162 150 566 z" fill="rgb(15,203,245)" /><path d="m 150 495 Q 188 112 -195 150 Q 188 188 150 -195 Q 112 188 495 150 Q 112 112 150 495 z" fill="rgb(240,52,10)" /><path d="m 150 314 Q 183 117 -14 150 Q 183 183 150 -14 Q 117 183 314 150 Q 117 117 150 314 z" fill="rgb(205,124,186)" /></svg>)
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