Enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experience that is limited to 12 swimmers with this catamaran trip. Immerse yourself in the wonder of swimming with the world’s smallest and rarest dolphins, Hector’s dolphin.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
- Reserve now & pay later
- Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
- Duration 3 hours
- Check availability to see starting times.
- Instructor
- English
Highlighted reviews from other travelers
Harry, Charlotte & Thomas were amazing crew , knowledgeable and fun too! Thanks for an amazing trip. We were lucky enough to get to swim with the Hector dolphins, have an albatross chick land about 2 metres from us while we were in the water, see a white flippered penguin and a seal while we were on the boat… all of which we are grateful for!
Nicole and Drex (captain) were great. Unfortunately we didn’t get to swim with any dolphins (they are wild after all), but we saw a dozen or so and it was beautiful seeing the coastline from the water. The guides kept us entertained and were extremely knowledgeable. At the end of it all they gave us a discount because we didn’t get to swim with any, but would absolutely do it again.
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Meeting point
Meet at the Black Cat cruises office. Akaroa is located 90 minutes by car from Christchurch city and Christchurch International Airport.
Open in Google MapsImportant information
Not allowed
- Unaccompanied minors
Know before you go
- No life jackets are provided. You must be able to swim and a basic level of fitness is required
- You will be floating in the water and are required to swim to/ from the boat (distances up to 50m)
- 45 minutes is the max time allowed with dolphins as permitted by the New Zealand Department of Conservation
- Children must be 8 or older and those between 8 to 12 years must be accompanied by an adult swimmer
- You must declare any medical conditions which may limit your participation
- You will need some knowledge of English to understand the safety instructions and emergency procedures. If you do not speak English, you should be able to read and understand the foreign language safety instructions and be confident that you can communicate with the crew using pre-agreed hand signals in the event of an emergency
- When booking, add on an ‘observer’ ticket if you are travelling with a swimmer. If no one in your party is swimming, book the 'Akaroa Harbor 2-Hour Nature Cruise' instead