Dolphin Encounter is a tour in Kaikoura that enables you to get up close to wild Dusky Dolphins. The same company also offers Albatross tours. With the dolphins you can chose to observe or swim with them, good swimming ability is recommended.

Unfortunately we didn’t get the best weather to go out in but we were only there for a day and very keen to go out। We didn't mind the heavy seas and we did get to do several brief swims with them। You feel really funny as the more noise you make in the water the more the Dolphin’s are attracted to you and want to stay and swim with you। The guides ask you to ‘entertain’ the dolphins.

The Dusky’s also like to see how agile you are and if you can keep up turning around in a circle with them then they will stay for as long as you can swivel on the spot। We were extremely lucky that the dolphins seemed very happy to swim along with the baby Hump Back Whale so we got a very good view of him/her breaching and swimming in front of the boat and the dolphins swimming along side.

The guides were very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and kept up the spirits in the cold and wet. They provided some excellent commentary. I was very surprised that we got a refund back to dolphin observer and that was lovely so we spent the refund on some fresh Kaikoura Paua and Crayfish. The boat was also very new and the wetsuits we were given nice and thick to deal with the NZ water. The snorkels and fins were also in really good condition.

With this tour you have to bear in mind that it is the dolphin’s choice to interact or not so some days they are more playful than others। It is certainly a great opportunity to interact with wild animals.

I highly recommend this tour either as a swimmer or as an observer as both are highly rewarding। Stray gets you to Kaikoura in time to do an afternoon tour – or for those keen to brave the cold a dawn swim can also be arranged before you depart on Stray the next morning.