Despite its confusing name, the killer whale is actually the largest member of the. North island whale and dolphin watching, swim with whales. And with the waters around new zealand forming the 4th largest marine territory in the world, and with a whale migrating route passing straight through it, you could not be in a better place to see them. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise to find there are some excellent whale watching tours from the coast of new zealand. You can spot whales throughout the east coast of new zealand, including. Killer whale orcinus orca north island and northern south island kaikoura marlborough sounds. You have a chance of encountering ten species of cetaceans. The pinnacle of many peoples visit to new zealand is an exhilarating whale watch kaikoura encounter to witness sperm whales as they rest between dives.
New zealand photographer sam kynmancole captured drone footage of a playful orca whale interacting with a kayaker in army bay, new zealand. Whale watching has a certain tradition in new zealand. You can also download the marine mammal sighting form pdf, 416k opens in new. Download scientific diagram 1 hauraki gulf, north island, new zealand.
Interislander travels between the north and south islands of new zealand. They are the north island or te ikaamaui, and the south island or te. New zealand whale dolphin tour new zealand self drive tour. The sperm, killer whale and pilot whales are often seen in new zealand waters. Map of the auckland islands with area of concentration of southern. Bob the killer whale, in tauranga harbour, new zealand. Outdoor activities the south island offers an unparalleled diversity of outdoor activities, from the relaxing to the extreme. Cephalopods represented by beaks in the stomach of a sperm whale stranded at paekakariki, north. Whether youve never seen a whale before, or whether youre eager to see your next gentle giant, your breath is guaranteed be taken away. From theyearround show ofsperm whales in kaikoura to the frequent visits by orcas in aucklands hauraki gulf, new zealand provides an awesome opportunity to see an unreal variety of whale species. Sperm whale beached karekare north island new zealand high. This little seaside town on the east coast of new zealand s south island is approximately 150km north of christchurch and is considered to be one of the worlds great whale watching locations. Orca and kayaker encounter caught on drone video youtube.
Or to see seals or penguins in their natural habitats, you can visit a seal colony or penguin colony in north island, new zealand. Whale watching you can spot whales throughout new zealand, including aucklands beautiful hauraki gulf and the wonderful kaikoura. Whale watching started in the late 1980s and now attracts over 550,000 tourists per. Further north there were also shore stations at new plymouth and great barrier island. The town of kaikoura, as mentioned, is the undisputed champion of new zealand whale watching destinations. A highprofile antarctic study cancelled by the university of canterbury uc has been saved and will be reinstated following revelations aired by 1 news. Not only is it the main place to see whales in the whole country, it is also one of the most popular spots in the world where you can easily have access to sperm whales. Oneinamillion whale sighting and where best to spot new. Killer whales swimming in the blue pacific ocean offshore. The hauraki gulf marine park is the wonderland for marine life with more than 1. In northern new zealand, most of the dolphin population is found in and around the bay of plenty. Not only being the home to endangered whales but the unharmed. On many peoples must do list when they come to new zealand, the chance to see a rare and graceful whale in the wild is hard to beat.
Catches of right whales eubalaena australis around new zealand. View topquality stock photos of sperm whale beached karekare north island new zealand. You can spot whales throughout new zealand, including aucklands beautiful hauraki gulf and the wonderful kaikoura. Over 51 known species of marine mammals and some 50% of the worlds cetacean species can be found in new zealand waters. These tours take you out past mount maunganui into the bay of plenty. North island whale watching activities whale watching. Whales are very similar to dolphins in that theyre warmblooded mammals and breathe air through their blowholes. Auckland is privileged to witness whales at play in the beautiful hauraki gulf marine park. The best places to go whale watching in new zealand. Whale sharks occur in new zealand waters from november to march, with the peak of sightings occurring in february. Whale watch is located in the small coastal town of kaikoura on the east coast of new zealand s south island a scenic two and a halfhour drive north from christchurch and two hour drive south from picton. Foraging activity of sperm whales physeter macrocephalus.
Kaikoura is on the east coast of south island, new zealand. Whales, dolphins, seals and penguins are just some of the natural wildlife that you can have a unique encounter with. North island whales, dolphins, seals and penguins directory. Our estimates of total removals of right whales from new zealand and eastern.
A few tour companies offer the chance for you to experience dolphins and other sea life. It is a bachelor pad of male sperm whales that come here to feed upon the abundance of food. Whaletrips new zealand best tips for whale watching in. Johnson said afterwards the experience was better than winning the lotto but the odds of seeing whales around new zealand are more favourable than that. Sights along the beach in a secluded bay, south island, new zealand.
Kaikoura, on the east coast of the south island, is one of the only places in the world. I remember finding the scenery almost as interesting as the dolphins. Floating on the surface, these huge mammals spend several minutes intaking breaths and jettisoning clouds of water high into the air. Baby killer whale fights for life in new zealand harbour. Moutohora is a small uninhabited island located off the bay of plenty coast of new zealands north island, about 9. Moutohora is a small uninhabited island located off the bay of plenty coast of new zealand s north island, about 9 kilometres 5. The hectors dolphin was named after sir james hector, who was the curator of. While kaikoura in the south island is new zealands whale watching capital, you. Range and migration path of right whale in western north. During these months we most commonly have the opportunity to view pods of orca as they pass by, usually in pods of between 612 individuals 2 or 3 times a month. Download scientific diagram catches of right whales eubalaena australis. Find premium, highresolution stock photography at getty images.
This is still an area of volcanic activity and there are hot springs on the. Orcas are also often seen exploring the northern end of the harbour and the kapiti coast. The island is roughly circular, about 2 km in diameter, and rises to a. Auckland is are located 460 km south of mainland new zealand 50 33 s. You can ski at a worldclass alpine resort, play golf, bungy jump, go rafting, mountain biking, wind surfing or whale watching, or visit worldclass wineries and picturesque gardens. Southern right whales returning to mainland new zealand rnz. Orca can be found all throughout new zealands coastline. There have been confirmed sightings of whale sharks to at least 38 o s along the east coast of north island, and unconfirmed reports of them as far south as timaru off the east coast of south island, and off milford sound. How to swim with dolphins on the north island of new zealand. Scenic boat cruises combined with a whale watch experience is a very popular activity. Tours are offered since the 90ies, mostly on the southern island, the northern island following its lead. The whales like to gather here a few miles off the coast to feed, and you can arrange a couple of different ways to see them.
During these months we most commonly have the opportunity to view pods of orca as they pass by. Diving in new zealand quick facts from the subtropical reefs and beaches of the north island to the unique topography and temperate waters of the south island, it could take a lifetime to uncover all the scuba diving sites along new zealand s coastline. This is the home to the highly rare brydes whale, as there are fewer than 200 of them in new zealand, all located within or close to the hauraki gulf marine park. Experience a unique eco tourism encounter in north island with a world famous whale watching or dolphin watching cruise. Also, since a couple of years, research is done in how far whales are bothered by commercial whale watching. Dolphin and whale tours new zealand downsideup blog. Nearly half of the worlds whale species are seen around new zealand s coasts with 9 species of baleen whale, 33 species of toothed whales including 3 sperm whales, beaked whales, 16 dolphins and 1 porpoise.
Moutohora island or whale island is a small uninhabited island located off the bay of plenty coast of new zealands north island, about 9 kilometres north of the town of whakatane. Killer whales swimming in the blue pacific ocean offshore from the north island, new zealand. The weather in new zealand is often best during the months of october march, so if you prefer the warmer kind of days then whale watching during the nz summer is a good bet. The most important regions on the northern island are hauraki gulf in auckland, bay of islands in the north and bay of plenty in the east where a lot of different. Not all whale watching hot spots are located in the south island of aotearoa.
In kaikoura they are often seen close to shore in small family pods of 4 to 8 individuals. The following is a list of islands of new zealand each of the two larger main islands where most of the population lives has two official names, in english and in the maori language. The island s area is 1,729 square kilometres 43,911 sq mi, 2 making it the worlds 14thlargest island. Its found on the south island s east coast, and its just over a 2hours drive from the city of christchurch. In addition, a warm current from the north meets a colder one from the south.
The north island, also officially named te ikaamaui, is one of the two main islands of new zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous south island by cook strait. If you dont mind getting wet, swimming with the whales or dolphins may be an option. The only known breeding site for new zealands southern right whales is port ross, at the northern end of the auckland island group, although. Journey through the north island of new zealand and explore waitomo, rotorua and lake taupo, and discover the natural beauty of kaikoura and christchurch on this 5day trip from auckland to christchurch or vice versa.
Christchurch canterbury, whale watching in new zealand. Alternatively, compare all our luxury yachts available for charter in new zealand. Whale watching tourism in new zealand generally focuses on sperm and brydes whales, bottlenose, common, dusky. Where to whale watch in new zealand yacht charter fleet. Find out what marine life you can see throughout the year at kaikoura nz. Authorities in new zealand are planning to cut holes in 300 whale carcasses today to avoid them exploding as they decompose on golden bay after more than 600 whales became stranded. New zealand whales the giants of the deep are frequent visitors to the bay of islands. This has made it a paradise for the sea creatures, resulting in one third of the worlds marine species having visited the hauraki gulf marine park. For your chance to whale watch in new zealand, please contact your preferred charter broker to plan an itinerary. Whale bay at the tutukaka coast on the north island. Hundreds of pilot whales stranded on new zealand s farewell spit, amid continuing rescue efforts. However, by 1840 the whale numbers had declined to the point that little. This is still an area of volcanic activity and there are hot springs on the island in sulphur valley, mcewans bay, and sulphur bay. Hectors dolphins are endemic to new zealand, meaning they are only found in new zealand waters.
New zealand has a beautiful natural environment, with many nature and eco tourism opportunities. There are some excellent whale watching opportunities to. New zealand consists of many islands, estimated around six hundred, mainly remnants of a larger land mass now beneath the sea. Unlike many other whale watching sites which are seasonal, youre guaranteed to see giant sperm whales no matter what time of the year you arrive. Moutohora island, otherwise called whale island is named that for a very good reason. Whale watch kaikoura the great journeys of new zealand.
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