If you’re thinking of going to Kaikōura, I’m guessing that you have dolphins in mind. Each morning, a 400-strong pod of dolphins visits Kaikōura’s shores to the delight of boatloads of spectators. I can categorically say that a dolphin-watching tour was one of the best things I did in New Zealand.
So how can you see the Kaikōura dolphins up close? And why do they all come to Kaikōura? Read on to find out.
Why are there so many dolphins in Kaikōura?
First things first: why do dolphins flock to Kaikōura?
Essentially, Kaikōura is a marine wildlife hotspot because of its undersea geography. Right off Kaikōura’s coast is a submarine canyon (i.e. a very deep ocean canyon). New Zealand is right on the edge of two tectonic plates and this canyon is the gap between them. Cooler nutrient-rich water from the south meets warmer tropical waters from the north via sea currents, creating a subtropical front. This “clash” creates eddies right around Kaikōura’s canyon, and these push nutrients to the surface of the water. (I think I’ve explained that correctly but I’d be grateful if any geographers or marine biologists reading this would correct me!)
These nutrients attract marine wildlife which means that Kaikōura’s seas are teeming with dolphins, three species of whale (sperm whales are present year-round) and occasionally orcas too. The best part is that those animals come very close to the land, making Kaikōura a globally-renowned spot for marine wildlife-watching.
What species of dolphins are there in Kaikōura?
Kaikōura’s dolphins are mainly dusky dolphins. Their name comes from their dusky greyish colour although they have white tummies. An occasional common dolphin might infiltrate the pod but you probably won’t notice them among the throng of dusky dolphins.
Dolphin-watching in Kaikōura: what to expect
Now on to the most important stuff: how do you book dolphin-watching in Kaikōura and what does it involve?
I booked my dolphin-watching tour with Dolphin Encounter Kaikōura. You have two options for how you see the dolphins: watching from the boat or swimming with them.
If you’re swimming, the company will provide you with a wetsuit, goggles, flippers and snorkelling gear. They encourage you to sing under the water to attract the dolphins! You’ll ride on the boat and then, when it stops, you’ll be allowed into the water to swim. On my tour the swimmers got in and out of the water about five or six times in different spots depending on whether the dolphins moved, so there’s lots of opportunity to get right up close to them.
All the swimming spots had sold out by the time I booked, and I’m also not a particularly strong swimmer anyway, so I was happy to spectate from the boat. It was so much fun seeing the dolphins playing in the water, diving and even doing backflips! It was one of those scenes where I couldn’t properly process it because it’s so unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I felt so privileged to see so many of these beautiful animals so nearby.
How likely are you to see the dolphins?
Kaikōura is unusual in that, on a tour in the summer months, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll see a pod of dusky dolphins. It’s estimated that about 400 dusky dolphins come to Kaikōura each day, and sometimes even more when pods join together to create super-pods of up to 1,000 individuals.
Is dolphin-watching in Kaikōura ethical?
It’s important to remember that Kaikōura’s dolphins are wild animals. The tour companies are careful to ensure that the encounter is dolphin-led, meaning that they do not employ any tricks to entice the dolphins to approach (other than singing underwater). But dolphins are curious and playful animals so they’ll approach of their own volition, often swimming along with the boat.
The swimmers are discouraged from touching the dolphins, and everyone is forbidden from feeding them.
More generally, New Zealand’s government is very hot on conservation and preserving the country’s natural ecosystems. This means that you can feel comfortable that organisations offering dolphin-watching tours in Kaikōura are operating in that spirit and prioritising the dolphins’ wellbeing.
What to bring on your dolphin-watching tour
Now for the practicalities. The most important thing you will need to think about bringing on your dolphin-watching tour is seasickness tablets. On the day I did my dolphin-watching tour, the sea was so rough that the whole tour was nearly cancelled. Even when the tour company decided it was going to go ahead, they were still offering free cancellations in case anybody didn’t want to risk the rough waves. I braved it and I was very glad I had taken my seasickness pills – it was extremely rough on the way out from the shore but thankfully calmer further out to sea.
You should also bring your camera. My video footage on my phone came out way better than my still photos on my phone or my camera – the dolphins move too fast and unpredictably to be able to time your shots! If you’re swimming with the dolphins, you might want to bring a GoPro or other waterproof camera to capture the scenes underwater.
Otherwise, just dress for the weather and enjoy the unforgettable experience of seeing Kaikōura’s dusky dolphins!
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