Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Eco-Safari Cruise: Explore Hauraki Gulf's Wildlife

Embark on an exciting eco-safari cruise in Auckland to spot whales, dolphins, and seabirds in the pristine waters of Hauraki Gulf. Learn from experts and contribute to marine conservation efforts.

Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Hauraki Gulf / TÄ«kapa Moana - New Zealand’s most interactive whale and dolphin watching experience.
    An incredible eco safari direct from downtown Auckland. If you’ve always wanted to go whale watching, our 4.5-hour safari features breathtaking encounters with New Zealand marine wildlife, including whales, dolphins, seals, rare seabirds, and more!…
What's Included
  • Local guide
  • Contribution to Marine Mammal Conservation with every ticket
  • Expert commentary and interaction with onboard Marine Research Scientists
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks (available to purchase)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Explore the pristine waters of Hauraki Gulf, just a brief boat trip from Auckland city’s Viaduct Harbour, to observe whales, dolphins, and seabirds. Gain insights from onboard experts dedicated to safeguarding these valuable creatures and their delicate habitat. As a functioning marine-mammal research vessel, every passenger plays a role in vital…

Location
Eastern Viaduct
Our boat is at Berth 9, Eastern Viaduct Marina, accessed from the end of Quay Street heading West. This is opposite the Maritime Museum. On arrival look for our crew at the top of our boarding ramp to check in 30 minutes before departure (check-in closes 15 minutes prior to trip time).
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(1862 Ratings)
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1 star
David_s
Apr 21, 2026
Good trip out - You may not see a whale but you will learn a lot .The crew worked hard to find a whale sighting but without success .We did meet a pod of dolphins which was good
Review provided by Viator
R9210rztheresab
Apr 4, 2026
A superb fun and informative experience - I loved that the staff were knowledgeable and explained so much. I felt safe in relation to how the vessel and general passenger safety were managed. The effort the crew made to ensure we had a fabulous and informative experience was admirable, and the dolphin and whale sighting was superb. Loved it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sally_s
Apr 1, 2026
Not a trip to be missed - It was a brilliant day. Make sure you take sun screen & warm outer clothing even if it’s warm in the city. We saw both dolphins & Orca whales. The crew are great & so knowledgeable
Review provided by Viator
Dawn_b
Mar 30, 2026
The crew was very... - The crew was very informative. They pointed out the mammals and birds around the craft. We saw several dolphins and 2 whales crested the water.
Review provided by Viator
Andrew_n
Apr 19, 2026
Great experience - Really knowledgeable staff, great vessel to travel on and good presentations. Didn’t see whales but a bucketload of dolphins.
Review provided by Viator
Andrewks6034mt
Apr 9, 2026
Good - The Experience was good, the only issue was people pushing past people and in front of others and being at the front all the time, luckily the crew did see this near the end and told them to let others go to the front, to make it better maybe a crew member could change people around every 10 minutes or so, I heard others complaining to each other about this issue but apart from that, was good
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shawana_b
Apr 9, 2026
We enjoyed seeing the... - We enjoyed seeing the whales, dolphins, penguins and sea birds. It would have been better if the captain had maneuvered the boat so all passengers could have had a better view; other than the few passengers that could get on the front of the boat.
Review provided by Viator
Lesleydz7963ti
Mar 30, 2026
Good day out - It was a lovely day. Saw lots of Dolphins and sea birds.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lindame7795as
Mar 31, 2026
Canceled trip - The dolphin and whale watching trip was canceled due to weather. There were about thirty school kids waiting to board when the guide announced our trip was canceled. We may have dodged a bullet.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bruce_g
Apr 1, 2026
Bad weather. Trip... - Bad weather. Trip canceled. But they refunded the fees. Would have been fun. Maybe next time. Hope so
Review provided by Viator
From $129
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).