Swimming with Dolphins in New Zealand

Fri, Jun 13th 2008, 00:00

The gentle nature of dolphins has always captured the imagination of humans ... and New Zealand is no exception.

To swim with wild dolphins is a rare treat that very few people get to experience ... and Science has even shown that encounters with dolphins have great therapeutic value for a number of conditions, particularly people suffering from depression.

Swimming with dolphins has become a very popular tourist attraction giving you the ultimate opportunity to get up close to wild creatures. The inquisitive nature of dolphins means that they choose to interact with humans. These dolphins are not coerced or bribed to interact with humans. They will seek out human contact if they feel like it. To be visited by these creatures is a rare honour; you can be sure that such an encounter will be an unforgettable experience.

New Zealand is one of the world’s foremost Dolphin Encounter destinations. There are many dolphin species to be seen in New Zealand, including the common dolphin, the dusky dolphin and the well known bottle-nosed dolphin.

New Zealand is also the only place to witness one of the rarest sea mammals in the world, the Hector’s dolphin. They are endemic to New Zealand waters. There are two populations of these shy creatures, one on either side of New Zealand South Island. The sheltered coves of Akaroa, just 80 minutes drive from Christchurch, are an ideal destination for spotting Hector’s dolphins.

The Bay of Plenty on the north island is another premium dolphin spotting destination. This 9,500 km² of pristine coastal marine area is an area sacred to the Maori of New Zealand. It is here they believe the canoes of the first Maori settlers arrived many aeons ago. The Bay of Plenty is home to large schools of dolphins. Tauranga and Mount Maunganui offer great dolphin swimming opportunities.

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