Nature, Wildlife and Marine in Canterbury

Pohatu Penguins

Canterbury is proud to showcase a unique variant of Korora, little penguins.
Tour Australasia’s largest little penguin colony, on Mainland New Zealand, click to find out more! Discover the wild side of Banks Peninsula (Akaroa), Pōhatu Marine Reserve and encounter its unique wildlife. The guides are all conservationists, friends and family – with years of working in penguin conservation, a passion for sharing their stories and a wealth of local knowledge passed down through generations.

Dolphin Encounter

Dolphin Encounter in Kaikoura is the only dolphin swimming company with wild dusky dolphins, operating for over 30 years. Kaikōura is one of the best places in the world to encounter dolphins in their natural environment. It’s just you, the open ocean… and Kaikōura’s wild Dusky Dolphins. One of the most interactive and acrobatic species of dolphin, they’re thrilling to watch and magical to interact with. If you prefer to stay dry, watching the dolphins and the people swimming with them has an appeal all of it’s own.

Black Cat Cruises

Eco-tourism proud, join Black Cat Cruises to discover Akaroa’s wildlife from the water, learn about conservation efforts and sustainability for our future.

Explore Akaroa Harbour on our 2-hour Akaroa Nature Cruise. View Hector’s dolphins, NZ fur seals, native penguins, and seabirds amid stunning volcanic landscapes.

Swim with Hector’s dolphins in Akaroa and learn about conservation efforts on our intimate 3.5-hour wildlife experience.

Albatross Encounter

A bird hotspot, you’ll meet one of the greatest varieties of seabirds.

A short boat ride and you’re in an entirely new world, where you’ll discover a large variety of pelagic birds including albatross, shearwaters, petrels, penguins, gannets, skuas, terns and more.