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Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Eco-Safari Cruise

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Overview

Available languages

German
Korean
Chinese
Japanese
English
French
Spanish

4 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Look for whales, dolphins and seabirds in the pristine waters of Hauraki Gulf just a short boat ride from Auckland city's Viaduct Harbour. Learn from experts on board working to protect these precious creatures and their fragile home.  As an active marine-mammal research vessel every passenger contributes to important conservation efforts, just by coming on board.

A dollar from every ticket purchased goes towards the Hauraki Gulf Guardians fund which supports organisations and programs that aim to regenerate the Hauraki Gulf and ensure its future.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Advisable to dress in warm layers and weatherproof gear as weather can be unpredictable

Advisable to bring sun hat (with chin strap to secure it), sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, binoculars and flat-soled shoes

IMPORTANT: Check in closes 15 minutes prior to stated departure time. Those passengers who are late risk losing their allocated seats.

If mobility impaired and a wheelchair is required, please contact operator directly to discuss requirements

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Local guide

Every ticket purchased contributes directly to Marine Mammal Conservation

Expert commentary/Interaction with our onboard Marine Research Scientists

Food and drinks (available to purchase)

Hotel pickup and drop-off

What To Expect

New Zealand’s most interactive whale and dolphin watching experience. An incredible eco safari direct from downtown Auckland. If you’ve always wanted to go whale watching, our 4.5-hour safari features breathtaking encounters with New Zealand marine wildlife, including whales, dolphins, seals, rare seabirds, and more! Make close-up discoveries and enjoy experiences with our diverse marine wildlife in the stunning scenery of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. Enjoy unique and special moments with our wildlife and capture photos of rare birds, marine mammals, and amazing island views during your personal encounters.

Options

1.30pm Departure

8.00am Departure

10.30am Departure

Reviews

4.59

1,701 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

1334
209
64
23
71
  • This tour was a big...

    HilmarL M,

    Jul 21, 2025

    - Viator

    2.00

    This tour was a big disappointment. We didn’t see any whales (except for one or two glimpses of a puff of water hundreds of meters away), even though weather conditions were very good and it’s supposedly the season for whale watching. They can’t guarantee and spottings, but even so, the chance of seeing whales seems siginicantly lower than either the advertisement or the boat crew will tell you. Plus, the crew told us whales would not approach the ship either, so the picture in the advertisement misrepresents the experience you’re likely to have. Kaikoura is clearly the better option if you want to see whales. The dolphin watching was OK, but quite average, compared to other tours I’ve taken.

  • Unpleasant

    Sara R,

    Jul 15, 2025

    - Viator

    1.00

    A very unsatisfactory and quite unsafe activity. The crew is not watching the passengers and it is very unlikely to see whales. I do NOT recommend it

  • Company should cancel outings in rough seas.

    Erik C,

    Jul 6, 2025

    - Viator

    3.00

    I understand that this is a business and they need to make money. The staff of the ship even warned the customers profusely about rough seas ahead. I myself am from an area that does not have a coastline. I’m unfamiliar with the ocean and ocean travel. I think it would be a good idea for this company to cancel outings when the swell is this high. Not just warn the customers, cancel the whole outing. The whole ship was miserable with all the rocking and the nausea. The staff did their best to accommodate us, but it was miserable. His business might think that that would be a financial hit to take such actions. However, you have to take into account that you won’t have any repeat customers if they go out and they’re miserable the whole time. It’s better to have good outings with happy customers that come back. Not just try to have as many outings as possible to make a profit.

  • We saw a Dolphin Nursery Pod and my life is now complete

    Chitban S,

    Jun 23, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    I completely understand that we lucked out when we saw the dolphin nursery pod. It might not always happen but when it does happen it will be something you remember for the rest of your life. If it doesnt, the tour was still great! We learned a lot and still got to enjoy an incredible day out on the water. The crew are very passionate about what they do and are so lovely at answering questions. Highly reccomend this experience!

  • A long time on the water for little viewing.

    Karin G,

    Jun 20, 2025

    - Viator

    3.00

    While it was cool to see the dolphins swimming and jumping along side our boat, for the 4 hours we were on the boat, we saw marine life for roughly 45 minutes. For roughly 30 of those minutes, we watched a Bryde's whale that was swimming around out in the distance. Occasionally you would see it blow from its hole and arch out of the water, but it was so fleeting that if you weren't looking at where it was, you missed it. The rest of the time we were driving out and listening to the information about all the various islands we were passing and other marine life we were looking out for. That was a lot of riding on the boat for short glimpses of marine life. I realize that we are watching for animals in the wild and the operator has no control over what we see so it's all a gamble on whether or not you think a 4 hour boat ride will be enjoyable only to see a glimpse of marine life - unless you are lucky and go on an active day. The views were pretty though.

From NZD 209

4.59
1,701 reviews
Check availability

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Operated by Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari

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