Swimming With Dolphins - Swim with dolphins, bird watching, wildlife cruises in Picton: Naturetours

Swimming With Dolphins
Swim with dolphins and view them in their underwater world is the adventure experience of a lifetime and one that you’ll never forget!!!
Swimming with the dolphins in Picton, New Zealand
Swimming with the dolphins in Picton, New Zealand
Join us on a dolphin swim & viewing cruise in the sheltered calm waters of the scenic Marlborough Sounds. We’ll search for Dusky, Bottlenose, Common, Orca and the rare Hector’s dolphins that frequent this amazing area. Whether it’s watching a group quietly cruising along or marveling at their high leaps, back-flips, and somersaults during social bouts, dolphins are a magnificent sight! Our Department of Conservation permit allows us to seek out and interact with all species of marine mammals that live in the Sounds. We take you where the wildlife is and provide respectful interactions with these amazing creatures. During the cruise, we’re also likely to see NZ Fur Seals and a variety of seabirds (like Gannets, Shearwaters and Penguins)

Once spotted, we’ll cruise with the dolphins and get the swimmers ready if conditions allow. As a permitted operator, we abide by the rules and regulations established for dolphin swimming and viewing activities. If conditions are good, then we’ll place swimmers in the water for the adventure of a lifetime! Unlike other dolphin swimming operations around New Zealand where several boats are on the same group of dolphins, we are Picton’s only Dolphin Swimming operator – that means we’re the only boat with swimmers in the water with a group of dolphins. We primarily operate in an area of little to no sea swell – meaning seasickness is rarely an issue for our guests. Wetsuits, masks and snorkels are provided free of charge. If you’re not keen on swimming with the dolphins, then join this tour for some fantastic dolphin viewing from above.

Tour Highlights

5 possible dolphins species (Bottlenose, Dusky, Common, Hectors & Orca)
Dolphins that are wild and FREE!
Scenic cruise in the calm and sheltered Queen Charlotte Sound
Expert knowledge of the wildlife that lives here
All swim equipment provided
Dolphin Viewing success 95% & Swim sucess 80%
Dolphin Swimming Terms – see below
Family Friendly
Conservation focused
Fantastic photo opportunities
Free tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cookies
Departs Daily (October to April) Check in at 8.15 AM
Dolphin Watch Naturetours booking

This lucky couple get a fantastic look at 2 Bottlenose Dolphins swimming right underneath them.
This lucky couple get a fantastic look at 2 Bottlenose Dolphins swimming right underneath them.
A large group of Bottlenose Dolphins coming straight at this lucky group of swimmers.
A large group of Bottlenose Dolphins coming straight at this lucky group of swimmers.
General Information about swimming with dolphins:
Dolphin Swimming – If you aren’t able to swim with dolphins, we’ll give you a parital refund! Success rate (all year) for viewing dolphins is currently 95%! Success rate (all year) for swimming with dolphins is currently 80%! Please keep in mind that like all dolphin swimming tours in New Zealand, there is always the rare chance that you will not be able to get in the water with wild dolphins. For an update on what we’ve been seeing and swimming with recently, please view our www.facebook.com/naturetours
Wetsuits, masks and snorkels are provided. You will need to bring a swimsuit, towel, camera and sunscreen. A hot deck shower is available immediately after swimming to warm you up. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits are provided free-of-charge after swimming/viewing.
Space is limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Each dolphin swimming tour lasts approximately 2 – 4 hours. Tour times depend on where we find the dolphins.
Viewing dolphins in their underwater world is truly a magical experience and one not soon (if ever!) to be forgotten. It should be noted that open water dolphin swimming operations are not like that of an aquarium type atmosphere. Dolphins are generally very interested in swimmers, however, these are wild animals that are in total control of the situation and we are simply guests in their world. If the dolphins are not in the mood to interact with people, they may simply move on and swimmers should be aware there is the chance that they will not interact with them in the water. If that is the case, we will bring the swimmers back onboard for some awesome viewing from the boat. Please understand that it is the dolphins choice whether to interact with the swimmers and refunds can not be given if the dolphins are “not interested” for whatever reason.
Like all swim with dolphin operators in New Zealand, this is an open water experience – not an aquarium setup. The Marlborough Sounds are extremely sheltered from the wind and we rarely experience any sea swell that makes swimmers sick in other areas of New Zealand. However, if sea and wind conditions are deemed too severe, all dolphin swimming tours will be cancelled for matters of passenger safety. Your safety is paramount to us and we will not put swimmers in the water if the conditions are unsafe for you to disembark or climb back aboard the vessel. If dolphins are viewed, but weather is not good enough to put swimmers in the water then your fare will reduced. Read additional terms and conditions for dolphin swims.
We are a Department of Conservation (DOC) permitted swim with dolphins operators. It is our years of experience operating around both dolphins and whales that provides our guests with important and relevant information during each dolphin swimming or viewing experience.
Book a dolphin swimming tour

Marlborough Sounds scenic cruises and bird watching
Marlborough Sounds scenic cruises and bird watching
Groups and Private Charters

Ship Cove Marlborough Sounds cruise
Ship Cove Marlborough Sounds cruise
Ship Cove Eco-Cruise & Walk

Bird watching tour
Bird watching tour
Birdwatchers Expedition

Swimming with dolphins
Swimming with dolphins
Swimming With & Viewing Dolphins

“Loved the Sounds, loved the dolphins – another lifetime ambition completed!”
Paul & Frankie, United Kingdom
Swim With Dolphins Video
Swim With Dolphins Video

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