Albatross Encounter

Albatross Encounter was established in 1998 by the business owners of Dolphin Encounter. This tour takes you by boat off the Kaikoura Coast to visit the largest wingspan in the world and an incredible range of pelagic (ocean living) birds. Kaikoura is known as the albatross capital of New Zealand - if not the world, and up to twelve species of albatross can be found along this spectacular coastline.

It is the vast offshore canyons, with their nutrient rich waters, which is responsible for the variety of sea-life off Kaikoura. A travel time of only fifteen mintues by boat is required to commence viewing the pelagic birds including; twelve species of albatross, penguins, gannetts, skuas, shearwaters, petrels and terns.  

The dedicated Albatross Encounter vessel has been adapted for maximum wildlife viewing opportunities and on board identification guides. We limit capacity to just fourteen passengers to provide an intimate tour and ensure close proximity to the birds. A full species list and souvenir information pack is provided by the skipper for every tour.

Tour Times

Albatross Encounter tours operate at 9.00am and 1.00pm (with an additional tour at 6.00am).

Tours are by boat and operate all year round and are usually approximately two and a half hours in duration. All our tours are subject to suitable sea conditions on the day and minimum passenger numbers.

Expertise

Our skippers have an excellent level of knowledge of the seabirds we encounter along the Kaikoura coastline and cater the tour to the customer requirements. Their impeccable service ensures that this tour is suitable for both the general wildlife enthusiast and the avid birder. This is the advantage of tours in Kaikoura; boat trips out to the pelagic birds are usually very short. We carry frozen 'chum' (fishy bits) on the boats that attracts the seabirds very close, offering wonderful opportunities for photography.

Wildlife We Encounter

For many it is the species of albatross that are the biggest attraction. The great albatross, the wanderings and royals, then the smaller albatross (known as mollymawks in New Zealand), the shy (three species), black-browed (two species), the Salvin's, and Buller's. We see giant petrels, two species and the smaller petrels, some ten species. There are about seven species of shearwater including the endemic Hutton's shearwater, which nests in burrows in the Kaikoura Mountains.

Various other species can be seen including two species of skua, the blue penguin and of course the gulls, three species. Three species of tern, various species of shag and the Australasian gannet can also be seen at various times of the year. On the return to shore it is normal to see two or more species of waders to add that final touch to the tour. For a full species list visit our daily tour sighting reports

Price (valid to 30th November 2011)

NZ$110.00 per adult

NZ$55.00 per child (14 years and younger)

Specialist Tours are available