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Christchurch Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!
Get up close and personal to Kaikoura's incredible resident dusky dolphins in their stunning natural environment!
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
Sun 20 Apr
Mon 21 Apr
Tue 22 Apr
Wed 23 Apr
Thu 24 Apr
Fri 25 Apr
Sat 26 Apr
Sun 27 Apr
Mon 28 Apr
Tue 29 Apr
Wed 30 Apr
Thu 1 May
Fri 2 May
Sat 3 May
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Magical!
Lucy from
United Kingdom
Magical!
Lucy from
United Kingdom
Magique!
Valerie from
France
Magique!
Valerie from
France
Lucked out this trip
katemalster from
NZ
Lucked out this trip
katemalster from
NZ
Lucked out this trip
katemalster from
NZ
Kaikoura Dolphin Encounter
smitas from
NZ
Dolphin watching
Anja Angel from
Germany
Awesome!
Stefanie from
Germany
Awesome!
Stefanie from
Germany
Awesome!
Stefanie from
Germany
Wonderful trip
ashg from
NZ
Wonderful trip
ashg from
NZ
Incredible
sandie from
NZ
Incredible
sandie from
NZ
Incredible
sandie from
NZ
Fantastic
Brett Smith from
NZ
Fantastic activity
Jane Davies from
NZ
Dolphin Encounter
Andrew Osborn from
NZ
Dolphin Encounter
Andrew Osborn from
NZ
Worth every cent
angelab23 from
NZ
Giant Pods of Dusky Dolphins - over 400 viewing
Anne from
NZ
Giant Pods of Dusky Dolphins - over 400 viewing
Anne from
NZ
Giant Pods of Dusky Dolphins - over 400 viewing
Anne from
NZ
Dusky Dolphins
annielorrainel from
NZ
Flips
Tony from
NZ
Flips
Tony from
NZ
Flips
Tony from
NZ
Excellent Dolphin Encounters
Moira Brown from
United Kingdom
Excellent Dolphin Encounters
Moira Brown from
United Kingdom
Excellence service
Randi Atkinson from
NZ
Amazing trip with dolphins!
Annabelle from
NZ
dophan cruise
wenda thomsen from
NZ
dophan cruise
wenda thomsen from
NZ
dophan cruise
wenda thomsen from
NZ
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 216 authenticated Bookme reviews
jiadongz from China wrote on 12 September 2016
服务很好
很可惜，出航后由于天气原因，又返航了，不过办公室服务很好，希望下次有好运气！
JIANJIN YANG from China wrote on 20 May 2016
凯库拉观海豚体验
我和丈夫参加了于今年4月底的出海观海豚之游，体验非常好，非常独特。海豚与人很亲近，一大群海豚主动与人互动。我们因为年龄较大，要不然真想和周围的年轻人一样跳入南太平洋中与海豚嬉戏，亲密接触。感谢组织团队的精心安排和周到服务。我们将竭力将此活动推荐给亲朋好友们。
katemalster from New Zealand wrote on 07 October 2023
Lucked out this trip
This is second tie for me doing this trip. Unfortunately we lucked out seeing anything except a few Hector dolphins. Nice trip on the water neverless and the ladies at the Dolphin Encounter are lovely..another fun trip.
From Kaikoura - Dolphin Encounter (Watch Option)
Thanks Kate - glad you enjoyed your time aboard and seeing the rare wee Hector's dolphins is always so special! :-)
Kerri from New Zealand wrote on 01 February 2023
Kerri pipson
This was an absolutely amazing trip got to see 3 species of dolphin all together I am still buzzing the crew were so lovely would def recommend doing to anyone we will be going again when next up
From Kaikoura - Dolphin Encounter (Watch Option)
Trifactor! Awesome! Thanks so much for your recommendation we appreciate it! :-)
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Qualmark Certification
This award identifies a business with a high level of professionalism, a keen awareness of the impact it has on the environment and a commitment to a customer centric approach.
This award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism business that consistently exceeds visitor expectations. Their proactive leadership and management ensure the business's focus on continuously improving their economic, social and environmental performance to create genuine, constantly evolving and sustainable tourism experiences.
This award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. It denotes exceptional customer experiences at the heart of everything the company does. This business is leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable visitor destination.
When you see the Qualmark logo, your activity of choice is endorsed by New Zealand Tourism's official quality assurance organisation and backed by leaders in the industry. It's your trusted guide to iconic activities and experiences that are awarded for their exceptionally high level of quality, safety and sustainability.
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Echo XU from China wrote on 23 September 2016
服务非常好
因为天气的原因，这次Dolphin watch tour没能定位到成群的海豚，只看到了零星的一些海豚。但服务非常贴心，工作人员一再道歉，最后还退还了部分费用。Bookme的工作也很及时，折扣很给力。其实非常能理解，毕竟是野生海豚，就等夏天再来一次吧：）