New Zealand is a nature lover’s paradise. Home to an array of exquisite bird, fish and animals, this country offers plenty of activities where you can enjoy interesting encounters with these species. One such activity most loved by many is dolphin watching. There is such pleasure in watching these large mammals displaying remarkable acrobatic skills as they occasionally surface from the ocean. Dolphins are fortunately, friendly species found in abundance in the seas of New Zealand.
Throughout New Zealand one can find plenty of tour operators each with an interesting set of activities planned for you. Some are mere cruise ship rides which will take passengers to highly populated dolphin areas where visitors can enjoy viewing these creatures as they jump into the air from the ocean. Others are far more thrilling and include exciting activities like diving with the dolphins or swimming with them. Enjoy a race with your best friends underwater and watch these amazing creatures swim gracefully in their ocean home. This is the most up close and personal encounter you would have with dolphins. You may also be allowed to feed them or even swim with them; either way indulging in these activities is an unforgettable holiday experience.
There are a total of 13 different species of dolphin in and around the waters of New Zealand of which the largest is the Killer Whale. The most frequently sighted dolphins are the Common, Dusky, Bottlenose and Hectors dolphins. The Hector Dolphin is an interesting endemic species as it swims only within the waters of New Zealand in the east and west coasts of the South Islands and is found nowhere else in the world. The Marlborough Sounds, Otago Peninsula and Kaikoura are other locations where one can find Common, Bottlenose and Dusky varieties. You can also find Duskies in the Chatham, Cambell and Subantarctic Auckland islands. If you are lucky you may even encounter a number of rare varieties that swim within these waters.
For more adventures with nature stay at Millennium & Copthorne Hotels NZ that offers a range of New Zealand hotels that let you enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation before and after a sightseeing tour. These properties are located in key destinations around the country and are popular hotels New Zealand proudly boasts as its own.