Akaroa Dolphins, Akaroa

Outstanding boat trip, with great commentary and service. We unexpectedly found ourselves on an afternoon cruise with Akaroa Dolphins last weekend after a rival company refused boarding for my 10 year old on a ‘swimming with dolphins’ cruise due to alleged concerns about her swimming ability. I was a little surprised given that I am a former competitive swimmer at Australian national level, and my daughter started swimming club aged 5 and life saver training age 6 (and looked far more capable than some of the other people waiting to board). The company representative then proceeded to recommend that everybody else take a refund as ‘the water was too rough for spectating and the dolphins hadn’t been spotted on the previous two cruises’. Fortunately we were welcomed with open arms by Akaroa Dolphins. We spotted dolphins within 10 minutes of leaving the dock, and then more dolphins, and then more.The boat was only 8 weeks old and wonderfully steady on the water. I didn’t notice any waves at all, which was a relief as I am prone to sea-sickness. An unexpected bonus was the beautiful caves that we sailed past, and the volcanic formations just outside the harbour. We also saw some seals! A complimentary drink and yummy chocolate chip cookie were additional treats that we weren’t expecting. Highly recommended. It was the highlight of our trip to New Zealand.

If you have a choice always go local. We had an exceptional experience with the Akaroa Dolphin team. Everyone was focused on us having a great, and safe experience. Our particular group saw all of the possible wildlife - quite a few dolphins including a mother and baby, seals, and a penguin. Of course, there is no guarantee that happens every time. But even if the sightings would have been less bountiful we would have had a great time. The captain had a long history in the area and shared great stories and background and the boat was spotless, stable and comfortable. Their superb team led to a fabulous experience.