12-Hour Dolphin Swim Day Trip

Kaikoura Swim with Dolphins Tour from Christchurch

★ 4.5 29 reviews

from $283.14 per person

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Duration: 12 hours
Meeting point: Christchurch hotel pickup
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 6 full days before
Run by: Leisure Tours

Overview

A morning pickup from your Christchurch hotel starts this full-day trip, followed by a drive of more than two hours north to Kaikoura, where the dolphin swim itself takes place. The tour runs about 12 hours door to door and carries a maximum of 16 travellers. Leisure Tours handles the transport and the local guide.

Once at the coast, the core of the day is an open-ocean swim with wild dolphins. You get into the water directly from the boat, and swimmers must be able to cover up to 50 metres at a time to and from the vessel. Wet suits and snorkel gear are provided, and reviewers repeatedly describe dolphins in large groups swimming close by, sometimes circling individual swimmers. One traveller said seeing dolphins in the sea rather than a pool was a big part of the appeal.

The trip back to Christchurch includes a stop to view a fur seal colony. Lunch is not included, so budget for food during the day. This tour suits confident swimmers aged eight and over with moderate fitness. Anyone prone to motion sickness should come prepared, as the boat is small enough that you feel the swells.

What's Included

Included

Local guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Hotel pickup and drop off
Swim with Dolphins
Use of snorkel equipment including wet suit
Fur seal colony viewing

Not Included

Lunch

Itinerary

Hotel pickup, ChristchurchMorning pickup from Christchurch hotels.
Drive north to KaikouraA drive of more than two hours north to the Kaikoura coast.
Time in KaikouraNo timed itinerary is given for the stop in Kaikoura. Lunch is not included, so plan for food along the way.
Dolphin swim briefing and boatGear up with the provided wet suit and snorkel equipment, then head out for the swim with wild dolphins.
Fur seal colony viewingOn the way back there is a stop to view a fur seal colony, included in the tour.
Return drive to ChristchurchThe drive back to Christchurch, with hotel drop off to finish the roughly 12-hour day.

GuideIncluded

PickupIncluded

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what past swimmers say matters most before you book this long day.

Be a confident swimmer. Swimmers must be aged eight and over and able to swim up to 50 metres from the boat in open ocean. Floaties and swimming aids are not permitted. Previous snorkelling experience helps but is not required.
Sea sickness tablets. Reviewers who were sick urged others to bring tablets, since the boat is small and you feel even moderate swells. The crew look after anyone who is ill, but most say prevention beats treatment.
Cold water, warm wet suit. Reviewers mention cold water but describe it as tolerable, and the provided wet suits keep you warm. All snorkel equipment and the wet suit are included.
Bring lunch money. Lunch is not included, so budget for food during the day. No timed itinerary is given for the Kaikoura stop.
Camera for the water. Reviewers got strong photos and video of the swim. Dolphins often come very close to swimmers, so a waterproof camera is worth considering.
A long day. The full tour runs about 12 hours, from morning hotel pickup to evening drop off. Be ready for an early start and a long day on the road either side of the swim.

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Common issues. The swim depends on weather and on a minimum number of travellers, and the tour can be cancelled the day before for lack of numbers, which left one reviewer scrambling for an alternative. If the dolphin boats do not sail once the tour has begun, only the unused portion is refunded, though any partial refund offered by the dolphin boat operator is passed on. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, children under three cannot board the dolphin boats, and travellers must declare pre-existing medical conditions.

Common Questions

Is Hotel Pickup Included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop off in Christchurch are included, along with transport in an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickups start in the morning and the day runs about 12 hours total.

What Is Included In The Price?

A local guide, transport with hotel pickup and drop off, the dolphin swim, wet suit and snorkel equipment, and fur seal colony viewing. Lunch is not included, so budget for food during the day.

Can Children Swim With The Dolphins?

Swimmers must be at least 8 years old and confident in open water. Children under 3 are not permitted on the dolphin boats at all. All swimmers need a basic level of fitness and must be able to swim up to 50 metres from the boat.

Is The Tour Accessible For Limited Mobility?

No, it is not wheelchair accessible. Travellers need moderate physical fitness, and those with heart problems or serious medical conditions are advised against it. Service animals are allowed, and pre-existing conditions must be declared.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 6 full days before the start for a full refund, or 2 to 6 full days before for a 50 percent refund. Inside 2 full days there is no refund, and changes are not accepted within 6 full days. Weather cancellations and minimum-number cancellations come with an alternative date or a full refund, and any partial refund offered by the dolphin boat is passed on.

What Should I Bring?

Sea sickness tablets are the item reviewers most recommend, since the boat is small and swells are felt. A waterproof camera is worth considering for the swim. All snorkel gear and wet suits are supplied, and lunch is not included.