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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
Available Bookings from 22 Apr to 5 May 2025
Change Dates
All prices are shown in NZD ($)
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
Sun 4 May
Mon 5 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
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! :-)
Evelyn Pui from New Zealand wrote on 19 January 2023
Amazing!
Amazing experience watching the hundreds of dolphins swimming around the boat. Knowledgeable and friendly crew
From Kaikoura - Dolphin Encounter (Watch Option)
Thanks Evelyn stoked you enjoyed your tour! :-)
smitas from New Zealand wrote on 04 January 2023
Kaikoura Dolphin Encounter
We were absolutely delighted & blown away with the Dolphins ! They were everywhere and so close and it’s a thrill that words cannot express. The Kaikoura Dolphin watch staff are very helpful & knowledgeable about the Marine & nature environment. We would happily do it again & highly recommend it as we must have seen around 250 - 300 Dolphins in a fun loving happy mode.
From Kaikoura - Dolphin Encounter (Watch Option)
Thanks so much for posting a review we are so glad you had such a great time! We do hope we can welcome you back aboard again sometime.
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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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lee yu sun from South Korea wrote on 24 April 2016
돌고래수영도 같이하세요
저희식구는 6살아들때문에 아들크면 다시와서같이하려고 공평히 수영은안했는데. 꼭들하세요.돌고래가 수십마리정도가아니고.물반돌고래반에 사람한테 친근한지 스노쿨링하는분들 바로옆에서 재주보여줍니다.보는것도멋진데.수영하는분들은 더할나위없겠죠.참고로 탈의실따로없으니 큰타월챙겨가셔서 옷잘갈아입으세요.수영안하는분들은간단한간식도챙겨가면좋아요.