The only encounter we had with dolphins in the wild was when we took a boat ride in Tai O, Hong Kong. It was fleeting and brief. The elusive pink dolphins were spotted from a distance. It was a now you see it, now you don't kind of encounter. C, however, did not manage to catch even a glimpse of the dolphins and was sorely disappointed. It took her a while to get over it and I have her sulky face captured in many photos after that fateful boat ride.
So how could we possibly miss out on a dolphin cruise in Akaroa?
The world's rarest and smallest Hector's dolphin is found in Akaroa. We embarked on our cruise with Black Cat Cruises. If you are keen to swim with the dolphins, this option is available in the summer months. We were there in early spring and it was considered too cold for a dip.
As we sailed from the harbour towards the Tasman Sea, we spotted sea birds, a lone seal swimming, sea caves and volcanic cliffs.
As we approached the open sea, the choppy waters and biting cold wind made the search for the dolphins more precarious (amazingly none of us experienced seasickness)! There was so much buzz in the air when the first dolphin was spotted!
On hindsight, I was a little over-zealous and threw caution to the wind when the pod of dolphins appeared. I was moving from one end of the boat to the other, trying my utmost best to keep my balance, enthusiastically taking as many shots as possible while keeping an eye on the kids to make sure no one fell overboard!
I don't think it was the wisest thing someone with a baby bump should do. But the adrenaline of finally seeing dolphins in the wild made me forget for a moment that I was preggers!
The hubby, being a different breed from the "chiongster" me, was calmly taking photos on the upper deck.
I thought this was going to be the highlight of our time in Akaroa. There was yet another delight in store for us!
After the dolphin cruise, we went in search of a beach. The GPS led us through weird terrain and we went round in circles. We never found the beach but instead were rewarded with a beautiful sunset on a secluded summit drive. Just us and the beauty that unfolded before us...
Travel tips:
- Discount codes/ vouchers are found in brochures which you can get from the airport and tourist offices. We received a 10% discount off the dolphin cruise using the discount code found in one of those brochures.
- To get an even better discount, pre-book activities on the Bookme website. This would require some planning as the cheaper rates are for activities booked a few days to a few weeks in advance.
- Visit the Akaroa Tourist Office and request for a map which shows you the route for the Summit Road Drive. Especially lovely at sunset!
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