By using this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and the terms of use within it. We're fast, reliable and can offer custom solutions. Humpback and minke whales are common, while the majority of wild sea otters also call Alaskan waters home. Spot whales and dolphins on boat tours on the bay. Orca in Auckland. As the orcas are very used to the coming and going of boats, you will have the chance to get excitingly close to the predators. AU +61 (0)2 900 70 415 -- JP +81(0)3 45208997 -- US +1 650 6145419 -- … The Orcas cruise the shallow waters in harbours such the Waitematā to forage along the muddy or … A couple of orca near San Juan Island (Shutterstock). Top Auckland Dolphin & Whale Watching Activities: See reviews and photos of dolphin & whale watching in Auckland, New Zealand on Tripadvisor. There’s nothing like the rush of excitement felt when spotting a huge body appearing from the water, finishing with the graceful emergence of an almighty tail. Orca offers triathletes everything they need to face their challenges. Love travel quizzes, events and competitions? Pods of orca are known to venture into Wellington Harbour throughout spring and summer looking for a unique food source (orcas in other parts of the world aren't known to do this), but it is rare for them to stick around.They dig in the muddy sea bottom for stingrays and are often seen hearding them into shallow water around Oriental Parade, Frank Kitts Park, and The Lagoon. By using this website you agree to our, Advertise your business on New Zealand's most popular travel guide, 7 Whale and Dolphin Species to See in Auckland, complete category on Marlborough right here, Guide to the Aotea Track on Great Barrier Island, 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in New Plymouth, 10 Most Beautiful Lakes on the North Island, 10 Most Beautiful Lakes on the South Island. 4.5 Hour Eco Cruise Explore the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park on … It just goes to show that you should always have your camera ready and your eyes peeled! Welcome/Kia Ora! Where to see: Tours of the peninsula from Argentina’s Ushuaia are popular, with sightings of minke and humpback whales common. While on a recent sea kayak tour in the Auckland Harbor we where fortunate to see a pod of Orca. Where to see: Tours depart from the Viaduct Basin - only a short walk from the centre of Auckland - from where you'll be taken to the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. Expedition cruises circle the Antarctic Peninsula in search of dorsal fins cutting through waves, or to witness orcas crashing into icebergs to knock unsuspecting sea lions into the water. Auckland is privileged to witness whales at play in the beautiful Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. You are most likely to spot baleen whales in June/July when they migrate through the Cook Strait, as well as the odd sighting of orca in Marlborough Sounds. A Bryde's Whale approaches a whale watching vessel in Auckland, New Zealand. Orca on the hunt in Peninsula Valdes, Patagonia, Argentina (Shutterstock). A pod of Orca (Killer Whales) are spotted cruising past … In order to improve our services our company uses first-party and third-party cookies to offer users a more customised service, identify the session and allow analysis of the website. Tours depart from nearby Seward and further south-east from Juneau’s Auke Bay Harbour. Kaikoura is the only place on earth that you can see giant sperm whales on a tour. The best whale watching on the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Orcas need to be free!! New Zealand’s most unique whale and dolphin watching safari departs direct from downtown Auckland. And the amazing marine life doesn't stop there, with humpback, dolphin, sharks, turtles and even the little blue penguin regularly being spotted. Plus, you can see them all year round. Then sign up today for free so you don’t miss out! Whales are not the only marine wildlife encounter you can have in New Zealand. A 12-year-old Auckland boy has captured rare video of a pod of orca hunting and killing dolphins off Auckland's east coast. The waters around Norway’s northern region of Tysfjord and further towards the Arctic Circle are some of the richest fishing spots in the world – and they draw large numbers of whales. Bryde’s whales are also residents in Hauraki Gulf and can be seen during most of the tours. Vancouver Island is home to two main orca communities. Orcas are known to be regular visitors into the Auckland harbour itself, making the Hauraki Gulf, the body of water on the east coast of Auckland, a great place to start searching for our flippered friends. Find out more in 7 Whale and Dolphin Species to See in Auckland. https://nzpocketguide.com/5-places-to-spot-whales-in-new-zealand Yesterday the creatures were spotted close … Orca (Killer Whales) are often seen close to Auckland city. NZ Herald Home. Check out our complete guide to the Hauraki Gulf here. An orca in front on Auckland's skyline (Shutterstock). Location: Auckland Central. Check out our complete category on Marlborough right here. From the year-round show of sperm whales in Kaikoura to the frequent visits by orcas in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand provides an awesome opportunity to see an unreal variety of whale species. © 2020 NZ Pocket Guide. Whale watching ecotourism and research vessel in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, New Zealand. Where to see: The lively village of Grundarfjörður, two hours’ drive north-west of Reykjavík on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, is the prime location for orca watching. Also, since a couple of years, research is done in how far whales are bothered by commercial whale watching. A pod of orca have been patrolling the close Auckland coasts this week, delighting onlookers who have lined beaches from Whangaparaoa to Mission Bay. When the pack ice advances off the north of the state, they head for the shallow waters off south-eastern Alaska to gorge on king salmon and for the females to calve. Trips from New Zealand to the Ross Sea in the eastern Antarctic are also rich in orcas. A family of orca whales saw Auckland Viaduct swimming with thrilled spectators when they came within just a couple of metres of the Maritime Museum pontoon. On a whale-watching encounter in Kaikoura, you are very likely to see other sea life, such as fur seals and dolphins. It’s fair to say, that spotting a whale is a once in a lifetime experience for many backpackers coming to New Zealand. During these months’ we most commonly have the opportunity to view pods of Orca as they pass by, usually in pods of between 6-12 individuals 2 or 3 times a month. Visser holds three university degrees: a Bachelor of Science (Massey University), a Masters of Science, and a Doctorate of Philosophy (both the University of Auckland). Orca (Killer) Whales in Auckland Harbour Last week about 200 onlookers gathered on Auckland’s Tamaki Drive to watch a pod of Orca Whales hunting close to the shore. Seek out herring-hungry orcas and possibly jump in and swim with them too: this area is one of the few places in the world where you are permitted to snorkel alongside wild orcas. You will also see the endangered Bryde's whale which reside in the Hauraki Gulf year-round. Known for its cultural diversity, music, food, and arts scene, Auckland is a beautiful coastal city located over volcanic lands in the country of New Zealand. The movements of Alaska’s 18 pods of resident orcas are dictated by two factors: ice and fish. In fact, almost half of the world’s species of whale are seen around New Zealand’s coast. You will also see the endangered Bryde's whale which reside in the Hauraki Gulf year-round. Go to the south of the region to see around 80 killer whales feeding on salmon or head north to catch some of the 260 that patrol these areas. Orca where not afraid of the sea kayaks while the ate the eagle rays. Part of the Pacific Ocean, the Hauraki Gulf covers an area of 4000 km² surrounding the Auckland and Coromandel regions. Spot orca off the coast of Iceland (Shutterstock) Orcas are common to the coastal fjords of western Iceland, where they… A pod of killer whales has been sighted close to shore in the eastern bays of Auckland Harbour today. The probability of seeing a whale on an Auckland whale-watching cruise is 75%. Where to see: Orcas gather in the Kenai Fjords, around Resurrection Bay, as well as in Kachemak Bay. Where to see: Tours regularly depart San Juan’s Friday Harbour, or visit Lime Kiln Point State for shore-based whalewatching. All of which are attracted to the continental shelf close to the land known as the Kaikoura Canyon. When to go: January-April (Snæfellsnes) and March-October (Húsavík), Orca jumping out of the water near the Lofoten Islands (Shutterstock). This video is about a day observing 20 Orca in Auckland; assisting Dr. Ingrid Visser. An orca off the coast of Canada (Shutterstock). Enjoy a 4.5-hour cruise on board the luxurious ‘Dolphin Explorer’ as we explore the beautiful Hauraki Gulf Marine Park in search of encounters with its amazing and diverse marine wildlife. New Zealand Orcas are the only known Orca group that eat stingrays as a staple food, often hunting them into shallow water and sometimes beaching themselves. They prefer deeper water but can be found in shallow bays and estuaries, and in inland seas. Orcas in Auckland. You can spot whales throughout New Zealand, including Auckland's beautiful Hauraki Gulf and the wonderful Kaikoura. A pod of orcas cruising the Hauraki Gulf has been delighting fishermen and beach-goers for the past few days. Alternatively, the city of Tromsø has also recently emerged as a prime orca-watching hub. Two orcas have been filmed swimming in a popular estuary north of Auckland, filled with holiday-makers. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise to find there are some excellent whale watching tours from the coast of New Zealand. Where to see: Many tours depart from the village of Andenes on the northern island of Andøya. The New Zealand waters are the fourth-largest marine territory in the world, with a whale migrating route going straight through them. In fact, we have a ‘resident’ population, so we can see them in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park year-round. Incredibly hard to differentiate from their “short-finned” cousins, the long … Top Auckland Central Dolphin & Whale Watching Activities: See reviews and photos of dolphin & whale watching in Auckland Central, New Zealand on Tripadvisor. During these months’ we most commonly have the opportunity to view pods of Orca as they pass by, usually in pods of between 6-12 individuals 2 or 3 times a month. Bryne’s whales and common dolphins are the usual species seen on the Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari, although you may see four or five different species on one trip. Location: Whakatane, Bay of Plenty. Did you know there are places to spot seals and penguins too? Here’s where to go whale watching in Auckland. A Bryde's Whale approaches a whale watching vessel in Auckland, New Zealand. Back in the day, Marlborough Sounds was a hub for whaling but today, thankfully, all that has changed to viewing them for a safe distance (for the whales). Check out our complete guide to the Bay of Islands. Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari, Auckland CBD Experience the diverse wildlife and stunning scenery of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. Check out more about the Bay of Plenty in our Bay of Plenty category. Húsavík, on Iceland’s northern coast, also has a bounty of whales – including orcas – particularly during summer. Top Auckland Central Dolphin & Whale Watching Activities: See reviews and photos of dolphin & whale watching in Auckland Central, New Zealand on Tripadvisor.