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Experience a dolphin cruise in Akaroa and encounter the Hector's dolphin, the worldโs smallest and rarest.
Experience a dolphin cruise in Akaroa and encounter the Hector's dolphin, the worldโs smallest and rarest.
Experience a dolphin cruise in Akaroa and encounter the worldโs smallest and rarest marine dolphin โ the endangered Hectorโs dolphin. Cruise past Akaroaโs dramatic volcanic sea cliffs, fur seal colonies, and marine birdlife, all while gaining insight into the areaโs rich natural and cultural history.
Black Cat Cruises are leaders in eco-tourism. During your cruise with us, youโll discover the fascinating behaviors of Akaroaโs wildlife, learn about conservation efforts aimed at repopulating Hectorโs dolphins, and explore how we can all contribute to their thriving future for generations to come.
Dolphins are sighted on 95% of our trips, if you do not see dolphins, we will give you a voucher to go again another day. Voted one of the top 101 things to do in New Zealand by local New Zealanders!
All prices are shown inNZD ($)
Real highlights, tips, and the helpful advice straight from Bookme customers whoโve actually done this experience.
Two years ago, my brother and I took a cruise here and had such a wonderful time that we knew we had to return when my parents visited. We chose the same cruise, confident it would deliver another great experienceโand it exceeded all expectations. This time, we boarded at 3:30 in the late afternoon on a stunning day. Almost immediately, the trip felt magical as we were greeted by several playful dolphins in many places and even a seal swimming alongside the boat. As before, the crew was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, sharing engaging tours filled with local history and entertaining stories. But what truly set this trip apart was the extraordinary care shown by the staff. After we had departed, my mumโs sun hat blew off and disappeared into the ocean. To our complete surprise, the captain and team turned the boat around to retrieve it from the water! She was absolutely delighted. That hat is now destined for a place on the wallโa perfect reminder of a unique experience and the exceptional service that made it unforgettable. We couldnโt recommend this cruise more highly.
Beautiful experience ๐ we saw a plenty of dolphins ๐ high recommended!
Unfortunately we did not see any dolphins on our cruise time. The sea was rough as well. Got to see seals and good views. Not worth the money spent, 4 of us went.
not worth it at all
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J from New Zealand wrote on 16 December 2025
Lots of dolpins
We enjoyed our cruise - friendly staff, good spaces to watch or get out of the weather, and lots of dolphins and beautiful scenery. The 2 hour harbour cruise felt like a good length.