1) What times are your tours?
2) Where do you depart from?
3) Are dolphins and king shags guaranteed?
4) What happens if the weather is bad?
5) What happens if I cancel my booking?
6) Do you offer charters or special group rates?
7) Is the trip suitable for children?
- Eco-Cruise & Walks depart at 1:30pm daily or by charter/group request demand and subject to minimum numbers
- Our daily operation will close for the winter season, May-September. However, all trips can be run for groups or charters by appointment.
- Dolphin Swimming & Viewing departs daily 9:00am October, November & April. During the summer season (December - March) the Swim With Dolphins tour departs at 8:00am.
3) Are dolphins and king shags guaranteed?
- Wildlife is not always predictable – that’s what makes it wild! We cannot guarantee that you will see dolphins on our Marine Wildlife & Motuara Island tour, Queen Charlotte Track tour or Birdwatchers Expedition. However, our success rate for dolphin sightings per trip is 98% and Dolphin Watch Ecotours offers you the best chance of seeing dolphins in the Queen Charlotte Sound. If dolphin watching is your main focus, then we suggest you book our dolphin swimming trip as either a spectator or a swimmer.
- If those booked on our Dolphin Swimming/Viewing tour do not see any type of dolphin or whale, you will receive a 50% refund of your fare or may go again until you do see a dolphins (valid for one year and non-exchangeable between people). If for any reason determined by your skipper, you don't get the opportunity to swim with the dolphins, but do get the chance to view dolphins on our trip, we will convert your fare to a reduced rate Dolphin Viewing fare.
- Those booking the Birdwatchers Expedition have an excellent chance (99%) of seeing king shags. As mentioned before, wildlife and weather are unpredictable. In the rare event that we don't see a king shag on the Birdwatchers Expedition, we will reduce your fare to the Marine Wildlife & Motuara Island afternoon fare or you can go again for free until you do see a king shag (valid for one year and non-exchangeable between people).
4) What happens if the weather is bad?
- The sheltered waters of the Queen Charlotte Sound rarely warrant the cancellation of any trip. When you check in with us we will inform you if the forecast is unfavourable and warrants a trip cancellation. The skipper can cancel a trip at anytime if he/she feels conditions are not safe. If conditions are marginal but safe (ie: choppy, heavy rain etc.), you will be informed before the departure and have the option of cancelling your reservation with a partial refund.
- Our Dolphin Swimming/Viewing Tour can be an open ocean experience depending on where the dolphins are located. During the season, we can often find dolphins in the very protected waters of Queen Charlotte Sound where sea swell is not an issue. If trips are cancelled due to weather while you're out on the water, a partial refund will be given if you are unable to swim with the dolphins but did get to view them.
5) What happens if I cancel my booking?
6) Do you offer charters or special group rates?
7) Is the trip suitable for children?
- Children of many ages will truly enjoy our tours. The walk on Motuara Island is a gradual upward ascent in some parts, so most children (or parents carrying children) may not make it to the lookout at the very top. However, there is still heaps to enjoy on the island near the bottom where most birds gather near the only watering hole. Ship Cove is nice flat open land and the kiddies can run around - nice and safe. Please also remember that guides and skippers are not babysitters. You will need to watch your children not only for safety reasons, but also to be sure they are not negatively impacting the trip for other paying passengers.
- For our Dolphin Swimming/Viewing Tour, children under the age of 8 are not permitted to swim with the dolphins. They may go along as spectators at the Dolphin Viewing price, but adult swimmers will need to watch them at all times. Children under 14 should bring their own wetsuit for the best fit possible, but this is not required.
