Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Akaroa | 3 hours 30 minutes

226 Reviews | Akaroa
Likely To Sell Out
From $115.33 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 7 travelers in total.
Adult (16-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 6
2
Child (8-15) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 7
0
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Dolphin Swim
2 Adults x $116.15
$232.30
Approx Total
$232.30
2-hr dolphin swim in Akaroa including wetsuit, mask and snorkel hire. Not recommended for children aged under 8 years

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • 3.5 hours Including suiting up/showers (2.5 hrs out on the water)
  • Final Check in is 15 minutes prior to Tour Time
  • Wetsuit, boots and optional mask (for those swimming)
  • Hot Chocolate & biscuit
  • Hot Shower Facilities
  • Includes live commentary from your Skipper and Guide

Overview

• Small group tours - Your 3.5-hour excursion with a maximum of 12 swimmers will be led by our skipper and a nature guide making every trip an intimate experience. The tour begins at our facility on Akaroa’s main wharf, where you’ll meet fellow adventurers and change into the provided wetsuits. After briefing, step onboard our purpose-built boats and embark on an in-depth journey. • Hector’s dolphins, fur seals, and marine birdlife - The opportunity to swim with Hector’s dolphins, get close to ancient volcanic cliffs to view New Zealand fur seals and other marine birdlife. •Your ticket includes hire of high quality 5mm wet-suit and optional mask, hot chocolate and biscuits after the swim, hot showers at the end of the trip. Our skippers and Nature Guides are experienced at finding pods of Hector’s dolphins and enjoy a high success rate - in the unlikely event you don’t get to see the Hector's dolphins you’ll receive a complimentary Akaroa Nature Cruise to join us another time.

Meeting points

Departure Point: Akaroa's main wharf Dates: 1st October through to 30th April Return point: Cruise returns to original point of departure, check in time 15 minutes prior

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Children Swimmers between 8yrs and 12yrs must be accompanied by an adult swimmer.
  • Children between 13yrs and 17yrs must be accompanied by an adult spectator.
  • Akaroa is ideally situated, only a 120 minute drive from Christchurch International Airport. You can either drive yourself or catch one of the shuttles, which operate daily between Christchurch city center and Akaroa.
  • Life Jackets are not provided or permitted and if one is required this product is not suitable, please join our Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise.
  • In the unlikely event you don't see any dolphins you will receive a voucher for our Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise to join us another day.
  • Minimum age for a child to Swim with Dolphins is 8yrs and to join as a spectator 4yrs
  • Final Check in time is 15 minutes prior to Tour Time
  • If you have Asthma/Allergies please know you are required to have your inhaler/EpiPen with you
  • Please reconfirm your reservation the day prior so weather updates can be given.
  • All medical conditions need to be declared as this product may not be suitable due to injuries or recent surgeries.

Free Cancellation

June 10100% refund
June 11No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.5

226 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    176
  • 4 stars
    25
  • 3 stars
    6
  • 2 stars
    8
  • 1 star
    11

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 176 reviews with 5 stars

Awesome experience, well organized, great staff

Published on Mar, 2025

Harriet was a lovely guide and explained everything perfectly. The swimming with the dolphins was amazing! We even saw seals and a penguin! All employees were super helpful and nice. All in all awesome experience!

Exceptional

Published on Feb, 2025

Absolutely fantastic experience! Would highly recommend to anyone. The whole trip start to finish was amazing, with the dolphins coming right up next to us in the water. Also, Elijah, Chris and the lady on the front desk were exceptional, friendly and welcoming.

Worth it even without the swim

Published on Feb, 2025

Sometimes, you have to be in the 5%. On our tour, the dolphins didn’t cooperate, but the staff onshore and the crew were great. We did see dolphins, they were just playing hard to get, do we didn’t get to swim. We did get a lovely tour of the coast outside the harbor and a couple of close-up views of baby fur seals. We also got a voucher for another swim, with no expiration.

nice staff, with lots of...

Published on Feb, 2025

nice staff, with lots of effort to try to help us to find the dolphins. Although we didnt swim eventually, we did watch 20-30 dolphins. Sadly the swimming didnt work but hope next time will do

Hectors whale experience

Published on Feb, 2025

Exceptionally run, safety first and great guides, Elijah and Will. Would absolutely recommend! Very knowledgeable!

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