Curio Bay Dolphin Watch

Curio Bay Dolphin Watch

53 Rankers Reviews

47 Face-to-Face

3 Dolphin Watching

3 Waikawa

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Photos

Spotting porpoises at Curio Bay
Wave watching - Curio Bay
Fossilised trees - Jurassic period
Meet the other local residents - Yellow eyed penguins

Information

Curio Bay Dolphin Watch

See dolphins in their natural habitat from the beach at Curio Bay

Hector's dolphins are a common sight at Curio/Porpoise Bay in South Otago's Catlins. A resident population of around 15 dolphins use the bay to play, feed and rest.
The NZ summer and autumn seasons (November through May) are the best time to see these small and rare dolphins at Curio Bay.
Please take care around these special creatures - don't feed them or chase them; they'll come to you when they want to.

Details

Feature Value Info

Location

South IslandSouthlandWaikawa

Categories

  • Activity__dolphin_watchingDolphin Watching
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-46.6613365655277

169.103965759277

Latitude
-46.6613365655277
Longitude
169.103965759277

Nearby

Reviews

    • Spectacular location.
    • A-MA-ZING!
    • Watching dolphins in the wild.
    • Damn cold water.
    • You can see dolphins there (we didn't).
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 31
    58%
    9/10 17
    32%
    8/10 3
    6%
    7/10 0
    0%
    6/10 0
    0%
    5/10 1
    2%
    4/10 1
    2%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 2.0/5

    October 2020, The penguins came in at 8:50 pm in, but they were so far away and it was so dark by that time that it was nearly impossible to see them.

    Big disappointment. Pretty beach though.

    Reviewed about 4 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Sat in the morning for sunrise between 6.20-7.20 Bt saw no dolphins.

    Although, I hear people saw them sitting out on the headland at sunrise the day before. Beautiful view anyway! And I saw a penguin yesterday night at the other bay around 20.40pm. Been here mid Feb.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Stunning beach, rain or shine.

    Hector’s dolphins playing in the swell with the swimmers and surfers. 2 cafes and a campervan site in close proximity. Lovely walk around the headland. Well worth a stop.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful beach.

    And absolutely amazing with a group of dolphins swimming around us in the waves for quite a while. So long that it got too cold, and we had to get out of the water (it was the end of March) In the evening we saw one Pinguin at the petrified Forrest. All in all a super spot in NZ. Only minus was the water temperature and the sandflies.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    We arrived at this beautiful beach on the afternoon and after waiting for 30 min we saw a couple of dolphins.

    It was amazing! They were very close! But it was so cold, so I could not imagine swimming with them... I regret to don't sleep 1 night in that place. In the other side, we also could see penguins, so it was perfect!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Very nice beach, nice weather and swimming with dolphins.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    It was a not a paid activity which makes it more amazing.

    I will never forget swimming with a dolphin in this natural habitat.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Around 20 wild dolphins live at Curio Bay and if you are lucky you can swim with them.

    Even without the dolphins the bay is beautiful and a nice place to relax.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Spectacular location.

    The bay is a shelter for a lot of dolphins. Also beautiful for surfing and just hanging around.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Great spot for surfing and even to see dolphins and seals.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 5.0/5

    A-MA-ZING!

    You can watch the dolphins from very close and even swim between them! They're not scared at all, really lovely. Although the water is freezing cold... But really worth it, and free!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    You can see dolphins there (we didn't).

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015

  • 2.0/5

    October 2020, The penguins came in at 8:50 pm in, but they were so far away and it was so dark by that time that it was nearly impossible to see them.

    Big disappointment. Pretty beach though.

    Reviewed about 4 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Sat in the morning for sunrise between 6.20-7.20 Bt saw no dolphins.

    Although, I hear people saw them sitting out on the headland at sunrise the day before. Beautiful view anyway! And I saw a penguin yesterday night at the other bay around 20.40pm. Been here mid Feb.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful beach.

    And absolutely amazing with a group of dolphins swimming around us in the waves for quite a while. So long that it got too cold, and we had to get out of the water (it was the end of March) In the evening we saw one Pinguin at the petrified Forrest. All in all a super spot in NZ. Only minus was the water temperature and the sandflies.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Stunning beach, rain or shine.

    Hector’s dolphins playing in the swell with the swimmers and surfers. 2 cafes and a campervan site in close proximity. Lovely walk around the headland. Well worth a stop.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    We arrived at this beautiful beach on the afternoon and after waiting for 30 min we saw a couple of dolphins.

    It was amazing! They were very close! But it was so cold, so I could not imagine swimming with them... I regret to don't sleep 1 night in that place. In the other side, we also could see penguins, so it was perfect!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Very nice beach, nice weather and swimming with dolphins.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    It was a not a paid activity which makes it more amazing.

    I will never forget swimming with a dolphin in this natural habitat.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Great spot for surfing and even to see dolphins and seals.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Around 20 wild dolphins live at Curio Bay and if you are lucky you can swim with them.

    Even without the dolphins the bay is beautiful and a nice place to relax.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Spectacular location.

    The bay is a shelter for a lot of dolphins. Also beautiful for surfing and just hanging around.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 5.0/5

    You can see dolphins there (we didn't).

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015

  • 2.5/5

    Very nice and long beach.

    Unfortunately we did not see any dolphins at all.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015

  • 5.0/5

    A-MA-ZING!

    You can watch the dolphins from very close and even swim between them! They're not scared at all, really lovely. Although the water is freezing cold... But really worth it, and free!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Great experience to see these animals in the wild!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015

  • 5.0/5

    Great to see dolphins swimming out at sea whilst sunbathing/swim in sea.

    In evening watch the penguins come ashore and looking at fossil forest. Clambering over rocks. All free - carpark included!

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful landscape, nice campsite, cliffs, beach, ocean and dolphins coming to the beach.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

  • 5.0/5

    Just awesome!

    Got into the water and waited while the dolphins passed by. But the water was pretty cold.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome because it is free and the dolphins come very close.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 5.0/5

    One of my favourite experiences in New Zealand.

    Dolphins came very close to the beach and swam around people.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 5.0/5

    Damn cold water.

    Make sure you will take neo socks and body neoprene. You can also borrow one but only with a surf. If you are lucky dolphins will make a show for you.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 5.0/5

    Watching dolphins in the wild.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 5.0/5

    Watching dolphins swimming around a man very close to the beach.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in December 2013

  • 5.0/5

    The dolphins swim really close to the beach and if you get in the water they stay next to you.

    Reviewed almost 11 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Dolphins swimming in the ocean.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

  • 5.0/5

    We saw them very close to the beach, went into water and they were swimming around us.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

  • 5.0/5

    Amazing experience with very few tourists (not mentioned in travel guide) to spend hours with dolphins (Hector Dolphins), that come and play in the waves at the bay with you.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

  • 5.0/5

    Fantastic to see these rare dolphins in such abundance and so close to shore.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    The rare Hector's dolphins are common visitors at that beach and even if the water is really cold they will come right next to you and you do not have to pay anything :-)

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Very nice campground (location) and nice people.

    Good information. We have seen Hector Dolphins and Yellow Eyed Penguins.

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in December 2012

  • 4.5/5

    Hector Dolphins can be watched from the campsite and even to swim with them is sometimes possible.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012