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Christchurch Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!tune
Take the opportunity to interact and swim with the incredible dusky dolphins of Kaikoura!
Highlights
- Swim with wild dolphins in the ocean!
- Enjoy watching these fascinating mammals in their natural habitat
- Exhilarating experience not to be missed
Having the highest success rate in New Zealand to both locate AND swim with dolphins, the friendly team at Encounter Kaikoura will provide you with a not to be missed bucket list experience!
Dusky dolphins are one, if not the most interactive and acrobatic species of dolphins in the world and they frequent Kaikoura year-round! Join the team aboard a comfortable vessel for a picturesque tour along the spectacular Kaikoura coastline.
Meet these incredible wild animals in their natural environment, and enjoy their spectacular acrobatics in the open ocean.
Make memories to last a lifetime and book today!
Swimming with the dolphins is an exhilarating and exertive experience and those who book to swim should be relatively physically fit and be confident swimmers in open water. Snorkeling experience is an advantage though not essential as lessons can be provided onboard.
Tours scheduled daily: We close just one day each year - Christmas Day!
Swimmers and watchers join the same tour, and if you would prefer to stay dry and watch these amazing mammals from aboard the boat, please check out the deals on our Watch Tour:
All prices are shown in NZD ($)
Authenticated Reviews & Photos All of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 295 authenticated Bookme reviews
From Kaikoura - Dolphin Swim Tour
Thanks so much for your review - we are delighted you enjoyed your experience with us and we apprecaite you choosing to join us aboard :-)
Dennis Lichtenberg from Germany wrote on 17 October 2023
Amazing Trip
A fantastic trip with lots of playful dolphins who were very curious. A unique experience with very good guides. I would do it again.
From Kaikoura - Dolphin Swim Tour
Thank you for your review - we are stoked you had a great time aboard with us! :-)
karaf from New Zealand wrote on 20 November 2022
♡♡♡AMAZING♡♡♡
Well worth getting cold for ♡. Totally amazing swimming with these majestic creatures. Thanks to the experienced crew for looking after us and guiding us so well.
From Kaikoura - Dolphin Swim Tour
Our absolute pleasure! Thanks for joining us aboard! :-)
Rosanne Mosterd from Netherlands wrote on 11 November 2022
Fantastisch
Super leuke ochtend gehad en veel dolfijnen gezien en mee gezwommen. Het personeel is zeer vriendelijk.
From Kaikoura - Dolphin Swim Tour
Thanks for your review - stoked you enjoyed your morning aboard with us! :-)
Stefan Koehl from Germany wrote on 08 November 2022
Fucking cold but worth it
Starting at 5:30 we took the first trip of the day and some willpower is needed to get in the 12° cold water at this time. The provided wetsuits are quite good but nothing for the feet. There was also a quite big swell which reduces the fun factor a little bit for people they can't handle this. The attraction itself, the swim with dolphins in the very clear water with very good visibility was outstanding. We met hundreds of them and could swim/interact with them 3 times. After the swim there was enough time for taking pictures of these funny animals from the boots view. We also spotted some Albatrosses during the boat ride.
From Kaikoura - Dolphin Swim Tour
Hi Stefan Thanks for your review. We prefer to say refreshing! :-) Glad you braved the cold and it was worth it and you had a great tour! :-)
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Zoe from Australia wrote on 08 February 2025
Once in a life time experience
I did this tour while backpacking the South Island for two months, and it was one of the most expensive things I did on the whole trip and I don't regret a single dollar. Was absolutely phenomenal swimming with a pod of 200+ wild dolphins in a completely natural environment. The team are incredible, you are well informed before going out on the boat, all the equipment is high quality and the company is very ethical. I cant recommend enough.