Kaikoura Seal Swim
Highlights & inclusions
What you can expect
The beautiful little New Zealand town of Kaikoura, located only 180 kilometres north of Christchurch, is a national treasure. With alpine mountain ranges almost touching the ocean, clear waters, emerald bushland and a quaint village setting, Kaikoura is a stunning tourist attraction and the perfect place to explore the Kaikoura peninsula with New Zealand Fur Seals.
Seal Swim Kaikoura invite you to join a truly unique experience, swimming and snorkelling with New Zealand Fur Seals in their beautiful natural environment. After gearing up at the head office, you will head out by boat and dive into the pristine waters of the peninsula. Over this tour you will get to come face-to-face with a Fur Seal and learn more about these incredible animals and their coastal habitat.
Seal Swim Kaikoura are dedicated to protecting the seals and work hard not to disturb natural behavioural patterns. They are licensed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation, ensuring your experience has minimal negative impact on the seals and their magnificent surrounding environment. As New Zealand’s original seal swimming company, Seal Swim Kaikoura’s passionate crew, including the owners who still guide tours, focus solely on seal swimming and will share fascinating insights about Fur Seals throughout your tour.
Location
What you need to know
- Boat based seal swim
- Wetsuits & all snorkel equipment
- This experience is available from November to April.
- Available seven days a week during the summer at 9.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure
- Allow 2.5 hours
- This experience takes place at Seal Swim Kaikōura, located next to Gooches Beach Playground on the Esplanade, Kaikōura, New Zealand.
- Minimum age is 12 years old. The head guide will assess the day’s conditions and the child’s age and ability to confirm suitability. However, the minimum age is generally five years due to wetsuit sizing.
- Participants must be able to understand and communicate in English, have a good level of physical fitness, and be confident swimming and snorkelling
- We will supply you with 5mm dive suits, hoods, fins, masks & snorkel
- You will need to bring swimwear, towel & warm clothing to put on after the tour
- As the seals are wild and interactions are on their terms, activity can vary, and if no seals are seen in the water, a 50% refund or a second tour (subject to availability) will be offered
- Minimum age is 12 years old
- Participants must be able to swim
- Guests must be in good health and fitness to cope with the cold water and possible exertion
- Guest must be able to fit into standard wetsuits
- All participants must be able to speak and understand English
- The experience provider reserves the right to raise the age limit or swimming ability level of swimmers booked on a tour at any time
- If minimum group numbers are not reached, guests may join another tour or receive a refund
- The cruise vessel is subject to change without notice
- Seals are wild animals and can be unpredictable, if guests do not see seals during their tour a 50% refund of the full retail rate will apply or guests may reschedule to a later tour time
- Guests should acknowledge the risk of cold temperature, exertion, sea sickness that can aggravate medical conditions
Recent reviews
Went well
Great morning doing the seal swim, very successful for all of the swimmers, and great staff. Thanks to them we had a great time and felt warm and safe.
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