Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura
4.5 256 reviews
Directions
Map
Edit
ReviewEscape the Algorithm
Cymen Crick
Rankers Crew
Get 10% off with RANKERS
Get 10% off with RANKERS
There’s your life before you swam with dolphins and your life after you swam with dolphins. If you’re feeling unsure, I’ve kept an eye on this operator for 25 years and they’re really onto the safety side of things. Be bold, you can do it. Thank me later..haha.
It’s NZ’s No1 dolphin swim location for me. The water is colder than some options in the North, but due to the shear size of the Dusky dolphin pods in Kaikoura, this is the spot, for sure.
There's a big chance that you'll see other marine wildlife as an added bonus too.
You need to book early in peak season, at least a couple of months ahead to be sure of it.
I’d recommend the earliest swim of the day as sea conditions have the best chance of being calmest then. Promo code ‘Rankers’ for a handy 10% discount. 'Too much' said the happy dolphin.
Photos
Information
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
| Feature | Value | Info |
|---|---|---|
|
Organisation |
Encounter KaikouraCommercial organisation |
|
|
Location |
South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura |
|
|
Categories |
|
|
|
Promo Code 10% Off |
Use discount code rankers with Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura and 10% off. |
|
|
Directions To Coordinates |
||
|
Coordinates |
||
|
Websites |
|
Marine Animals
Dolphin Watching
Google Maps
Reviews
-
-
A lot of dolphins!
Emilie Chanbon -
Excellent.
Laura McCusker -
Did Dolphin Encounter - swim with dolphins.
Keely & Mark Haynes -
Make sure you book in advance.
Ten -
Very friendly, professional
Christian Kamm
-
-
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.
-
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.
-
It was a great experience.
The people there are very kind and well organised. Cost $169 for swimming with the dolphins.
-
-
Unforgettable experience, nice employees, great photo opportunities, nice to see the animals in the wild.
Seasickness! But the employees did care for us.
-
-
Well organised, saw a lot of dolphins, long time in the water, bad weather conditions.
-
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!
-
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.
-
Perfect = equipment was new, size of the boat, number of swimmers, respect of wildlife, time of the trip was comparable for the price.
-
Fabulous!
200 dolphins, a lot of interaction with them. Long time in the water so worth the money!
-
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.
-
It was so amazing to swim with wild dolphins in the sea and totally worth the $170 and throwing up!
-
Breathtaking experience!!
Professional, experienced organisation. One minor issue: groups were too big. Besides that, a thumbs up!!
-
-
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.
-
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.
-
-
-
Unforgettable experience, nice employees, great photo opportunities, nice to see the animals in the wild.
Seasickness! But the employees did care for us.
-
It was a great experience.
The people there are very kind and well organised. Cost $169 for swimming with the dolphins.
-
Well organised, saw a lot of dolphins, long time in the water, bad weather conditions.
-
Fabulous!
200 dolphins, a lot of interaction with them. Long time in the water so worth the money!
-
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.
-
Breathtaking experience!!
Professional, experienced organisation. One minor issue: groups were too big. Besides that, a thumbs up!!
-
Perfect = equipment was new, size of the boat, number of swimmers, respect of wildlife, time of the trip was comparable for the price.
-
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!
-
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.
-
It was so amazing to swim with wild dolphins in the sea and totally worth the $170 and throwing up!
-
Had an amazing time swimming with dolphins, they literally swim around you.
It was incredible.
-
A fantastic experience to swim with the wild dolphins, staff were really nice, also we made a short trip to see other marine life.
-
Quite cold, but we did swim with heaps of dolphins, definitely one of the highlights of travelling.
-
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.
-
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!