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Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise
4h30
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Make your way to Viaduct Harbour in central Auckland where your captain welcomes you as you board the 65 -foot (20-meter) marine-mammal research vessel the 'Dolphin Explorer'. The large and comfortable catamaran ensures that you enjoy cruising the waters of Hauraki Gulf Marine Park as you look for whales and dolphins.
Some 23 different species call the Hauraki Gulf home, including the native Bryde’s whale and Common dolphin. You'll never know what you're going to see around these waters, but it might be Bottlenose dolphins or Orca that are frequently spotted playing around the boats, or seabirds such as Australasian gannets, petrels, shearwaters, white-fronted terns, and penguins.
Throughout your tour, your captain and the guides share informative and entertaining commentary about the amazing creatures of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, considered one of the world’s most biologically and geographically diverse marine parks. As an active research vessel passengers are also immersed in scientific experiments and citizen-science type sampling, conducted in tandem with local marine scientists. Alongside the wildlife viewing, the cruise also offers unparalleled sightseeing opportunities, with the expert commentary also covering several points of interest including Auckland city, the harbour bridge, Waitematā (Auckland) Harbour, North Head/Devonport and the Hauraki Gulf Islands (Tiritiri Matangi, Rangitoto and Waiheke).
While wildlife viewings cannot be guaranteed, this trip does enjoy very high viewing rates of both whales and dolphins. In the event that you do not see any marine mammals during your trip, you can go again another day at no extra charge.
Auckland weather is fickle, so dressing in warm layers and weatherproof gear is recommended. A sun hat (with chin strap to secure it), sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, binoculars and flat-soled shoes are also good essentials for your trip.
After your 4.5-hour cruise, your boat returns to Auckland where your tour ends.
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Some 23 different species call the Hauraki Gulf home, including the native Bryde’s whale and Common dolphin. You'll never know what you're going to see around these waters, but it might be Bottlenose dolphins or Orca that are frequently spotted playing around the boats, or seabirds such as Australasian gannets, petrels, shearwaters, white-fronted terns, and penguins.
Throughout your tour, your captain and the guides share informative and entertaining commentary about the amazing creatures of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, considered one of the world’s most biologically and geographically diverse marine parks. As an active research vessel passengers are also immersed in scientific experiments and citizen-science type sampling, conducted in tandem with local marine scientists. Alongside the wildlife viewing, the cruise also offers unparalleled sightseeing opportunities, with the expert commentary also covering several points of interest including Auckland city, the harbour bridge, Waitematā (Auckland) Harbour, North Head/Devonport and the Hauraki Gulf Islands (Tiritiri Matangi, Rangitoto and Waiheke).
While wildlife viewings cannot be guaranteed, this trip does enjoy very high viewing rates of both whales and dolphins. In the event that you do not see any marine mammals during your trip, you can go again another day at no extra charge.
Auckland weather is fickle, so dressing in warm layers and weatherproof gear is recommended. A sun hat (with chin strap to secure it), sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, binoculars and flat-soled shoes are also good essentials for your trip.
After your 4.5-hour cruise, your boat returns to Auckland where your tour ends.
Included
- Local guide
Not included
- Food and drinks (available to purchase)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Advisable to dress in warm layers and weatherproof gear as weather can be unpredictable
- Advisable to bring sun hat (with chin strap to secure it), sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, binoculars and flat-soled shoes
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
Features
Original
95%
Tourism
90%
Aquatic
85%
Adrenaline
50%
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Great trip. Crew knowledgable and very helpful and nice. Great trip would recommend and do a again.
Unfortunately, we spotted only two pods of dolphins after about 3 hours at sea. We received a voucher that allows us to come back again - whether or not we will be able to use that voucher is debatable, as we live in the UK and we were only in Auckland for a couple of days. The crew were very good and the boat was clean and comfortable.
An enjoyable tour
We saw so many dolphins and we were lucky enough to spot a whale as well. It is a long trip to and from and I would suggest taking snacks. We were pretty hungry by the end. They do have a small snack selection, but not enough for what we wanted. Overall though it was amazin.