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Akaroa Dolphins were founded in 2004 by Hugh and Pip Waghorn. With daughter Julia and son George joining the family business in 2015. The team today consists of 12 dolphin and boating enthusiasts, as well as four dolphin-spotting dogs, who cannot wait to meet you and show you the beauty of Akaroa harbour!
Let our crew, including our dolphin spotting dogs, take you on a journey of discovery. Enjoy the fascinating history and amazing wildlife of Banks Peninsula aboard our stylish vessel.
An integral part of our team at Akaroa Dolphins is our expert dolphin spotting dogs. We have 4 dogs; Albie and Buster as our main dogs, Moana in training and Jet who is retired, but available if needed.The dogs have their very own roster, taking turns working, one at a time. They are on the boat equipped with dog life vests, ready to spot some dolphins. They each react in their own individual way, indicating that we are close to the Hector´s dolphins. Apart from this important task, their job is also to enjoy all the petting and hugs from the crew and passengers onboard.
If you’re thinking ‘What to do in Akaroa’ and you only have one day, whether you are coming from Christchurch or a cruise ship this article has been designed for you! One of our biggest tips is to book everything in ADVANCE – just so you don’t miss out!
After many months of looking for the “perfect” boat, we found there was nothing suitable on the market that met our needs. Therefore, we began the journey of building Akaroa’s first purpose-built dolphin watching vessel.
