pepette31
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Auckland's Whale and Dolphin Safari
4.5/5
I really enjoyed this fantastic trip, where we were lucky enough to be a very small group and to see lots of dolphins and even one whale + calf despite difficult weather conditions.
The boat is great for whale watching, as it's a catamaran and you can stand right at the tip of the boat (if you're not afraid of getting wet) and have the dolphins swimming literally all around you.
I'm also a bird enthiusiast and the birding was great - lots of sea birds and a very knowledgeable captain.
Only reason for not getting a 10/10 from me : the price is rather expensive.
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South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura ▷
Albatross Encounter Kaikoura
4.0/5
Recommended for anyone who wants to see albatross up close.
I really enjoyed the tour, there were only 3 of us on the boat with the skipper and we saw lots of different species plus as a bonus Hector's dolphin.
Two reasons why I didn't put 10/10 :
* the price is quite expensive and the tour doesn't last 3 hours as indicated but rather 2 hours.
* using chum (bait) does garantee great birding, but it makes me wonder if it's not a bad habit for the birds, which probably have changed their feeding behaviour due to these tours.
Many thanks for your review! It’s great to hear you had a wonderful time and recommend the tour. I am sorry to hear your tour lasted only 2 hours as that is rather unusual. The tour should be 2.5 hours in duration. Can I please ask, where did you see the tour advertised as 3 hours?
There is certainly no evidence to support the belief that providing chum for the birds influences their behavior. The pelagic birds are consistently feeding around and following the fishing boats in search of food. Pelagic birds are typically a scavenger type of bird which is demonstrated by their behavior when near to fishing boats. We encounter a variety of species and varying numbers of albatross, some of which are identifiable by bands on their legs. If our tours had such an influence on their habits then I am positive we would be seeing the same birds day after day, which is certainly not the case.
If you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact us at info@dolphin.co.nz. Many thanks.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Okarito ▷
Okarito Kiwi Tours
5.0/5
If you're looking to experience wild kiwi in their original habitat - this is the place to go.
Ian is passionate about the kiwis and has so much knowledge to share :) We had a great time, and our kiwi sighting made the hanging around in the cold and the dark for quite a while definitely worthwhile.
If you want to see a kiwi up close - go to a kiwi house in a zoo.
If you want to feel what it must be like for DOC workers who track and monitor wild kiwis - go to Ian's !
Marie and Gabriel
Hi Marie and Gabriel.
I was not expecting 'Fancy' to be where he was. I was expecting him to be sitting on his egg. His egg obviously had been predated ( maybe the night before ) and he had suffered some kind of trauma, because he was very jumpy and careful and very quick when he crossed the track.
I am now waiting for Fancy and Joeline to possibly lay a second egg for the season.
Thanks for the positive review.
Ian
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Waitomo ▷
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
3.5/5
Your typical tourist attraction - expensive and not that good.
We were lucky enough to be a small group, but the next group was WAY too big and noisy, I'm glad we didn't have to go in that one.
The glowworms are very interesting and beautiful, but the cave is quite small and the tour rather rushed with a "I know my text by heart" guide.
For half the price it would have been a nice but not unforgettable experience. For the actual price it's not worth it.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Okarito ▷
Okarito Camping Ground
5.0/5
Hot showers, clean toilets, peace and quite in a beautiful spot.
Who needs more ?
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Banks Peninsula ▷
Pohatu Penguins
5.0/5
Really exceeded our expectations - the conservation work done by Shireen's family on their land is remarkable and should be an example to other NZ land owners.
The drive to Flea's Bay is incredibly scenic and we enjoyed great views of the little penguins AND one yellow-eyed penguin (without forgetting the seals).
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Okarito ▷
Okarito Nature Tours
5.0/5
A beautiful experience - kayaking through the peaceful lagoon, enjoying good views of the waterfowl and then, the best part - going along a small channel into the rainforest, full of birdsong and stunning
trees and plants.
Highly recommended for all nature friends !