Sanctuary Visit, Dolphin Cruise
4 hours 30 minutes · E-Ko New Zealand Ltd
Small-group tour with tea, coffee and hot chocolate on the return.
from $100.08 per person Check availability →
Small-Group Wild Dolphin Swim
Swim with Wild Dolphins from Picton: Small-Group Eco Tour
from $128.84 per person
Check Price & Availability →Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site.
- Duration
- 2 to 4 hours
- Meeting point
- 1 Wellington Street
- Run by
- E-Ko New Zealand Ltd
Overview
This trip from Picton puts you on the water in Marlborough Sounds with the chance to swim alongside wild dolphins. Run by E-Ko New Zealand, it runs between 2 and 4 hours depending on conditions and what the dolphins are doing, and the boat carries at most 30 travellers. Swimmers get in the water with mask, snorkel and wetsuit; everyone else watches from the deck as the crew follows pods around the sound.
The morning starts early. Swimmers need to be at the E-Ko office on Wellington Street well before departure to be fitted with a wetsuit, mask and snorkel. The boat then heads out through Queen Charlotte Sound and Marlborough Sounds, with roughly three hours of time on the water split between the two areas. Wildlife sightings vary, and reviewers mention everything from fur seals feeding close to the boat to dolphins playing in the sound.
The tour is open to travellers from age 12 up, with children accompanied by an adult. It is not a good fit for anyone with serious heart or medical conditions, and it is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs can be brought and the meeting point sits near public transport. Dolphin swims depend on the species encountered, so treat the water time as a strong possibility rather than a certainty.
From$128.84 per person
Duration2 to 4 hours
Rating4.1 from 40 reviews
What's Included
Included
- Wetsuits
- Mask and Snorkel
- Booties and Hoods (if needed)
- Hot and cold drinks
- Chocolate biscuits
Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Run byE-Ko New Zealand Ltd
Itinerary
- Meet at E-Ko ToursMeet at 1 Wellington Street, Picton, following the blue line painted on the footpath from the Visitor Information Centre. Swimmers arrive at 0815 for wetsuit, mask and snorkel fitting ahead of the 09:00 departure.
- Cruise Marlborough SoundsRoughly 1 hour on the water in Marlborough Sounds, looking for dolphin pods and other wildlife. Admission is included in the tour.
- Explore Queen Charlotte SoundAbout 2 hours in Queen Charlotte Sound, with time to swim with permitted dolphin species or watch them from the boat. Admission is included.
- Return to PictonThe trip ends back at the original meeting point on Wellington Street. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points make the difference between a good morning and a rushed one, especially for swimmers.
- Sanctuary Visit, Dolphin Cruise$100.08
- Blumine Bird Watching Eco Tour$128.84
- Small-Group Wild Dolphin Swim (this tour)$128.84
- Arrive early. Swimmers must be at the Wellington Street office by 0815, ahead of the 09:00 departure, to allow time for wetsuit and snorkel fitting.
- Gear is provided. Wetsuits, mask and snorkel are included, and booties and hoods are supplied if needed. Hot and cold drinks and chocolate biscuits are served on board, so there is no need to pack food for a few hours on the water.
- Wildlife is wild. Several travellers reported seeing multiple dolphin groups plus a fur seal feeding close to the boat. Not every species permits swimming, so treat the water time as a strong possibility rather than a certainty.
- Age and health limits. The minimum age is 12, and children must be with an adult. Travellers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions cannot take this cruise.
- Getting there. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan your own way to the meeting point. The office is near public transport and reached on foot by following the blue line from the Visitor Information Centre.
- Weather calls. The experience requires good weather and a minimum number of travellers to run. If it is cancelled for either reason, the operator offers a different date, a different experience, or a full refund.
Common issues. The swim is not guaranteed. One reviewer saw several dolphin groups but none of a species they were allowed to enter the water with, though the crew issued a partial credit without hassle in that case. Weather cancellations happen, and the tour also needs a minimum number of bookings to go ahead. The group can reach 30 travellers, so it is not an intimate boat, and the trip is not wheelchair accessible. Hotel transport is not provided, and swimmers face an early check-in for gear fitting.
Common Questions
What Is Included In The Price?
Wetsuits, mask and snorkel, plus booties and hoods if needed. Hot and cold drinks and chocolate biscuits are served on board, and admission to both sounds areas on the itinerary is covered. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
Where Does The Tour Start And What Time Should I Arrive?
It starts at the E-Ko Tours office at 1 Wellington Street, Picton, reachable by following the blue line on the footpath from the Visitor Information Centre. Swimmers should arrive at 0815 for wetsuit and snorkel fitting ahead of the 09:00 departure. The tour ends back at the same point.
Can Children Join The Dolphin Swim?
Yes, from age 12 and up, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Participation is not advised for anyone with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
Is The Tour Accessible For Wheelchairs Or Pushchairs?
It is not wheelchair accessible. Pushchairs are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transport.
What Happens If The Weather Is Bad Or Not Enough People Book?
The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of travellers. If it is cancelled for weather you will be offered a different date or a full refund, and if the minimum is not met you will be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.
How Long Is The Trip And How Big Is The Group?
The trip runs between 2 and 4 hours, departing Picton in the morning and returning to the same meeting point. There is a maximum of 30 travellers on board.
Check Live Dates And Prices
Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.
Check availability →Other Wildlife And Dolphin Cruises Worth Comparing
Blumine Bird Watching Eco Tour
3 to 4 hours · E-Ko New Zealand Ltd
from $128.84 per person Check availability →