Welcome to Banks Peninsula, home of The Hector’s dolphins and eco-tourism pioneers Black Cat Cruises

Category Archives: Akaroa New Zealand

MISS ITALY DROPS IN FOR A DOLPHIN SWIM

Former All Black Scott Roberston and Miss Italy Tania Zamparo are currently filming a documentary that will help promote the Rugby World Cup 2011 to Italians. This is the first of many positive spin offs of this huge event which is sure to help profile New Zealand as great holiday destination to new audiences. 8,700 […]

BLACK CAT AS A CHRISTCHURCH CORPORATE FUNCTION VENUE

We operate as a function venue for corporate events and recently held the launch of a new bourbon. Pictured here are the Bourbon Girls on the Canterbury Cat and here is the feedback from the organiser. “Thanks so much for setting it up so that everything was super easy last night. The crew that were […]

WHALES GALORE

We’ve been cruising for nearly 25 years and over the last 12 months have seen more varieties of whales than ever before, including last weeks Blue Whale (pictured) and also Fin, Orca, Curviars beaked, Humpback, Pilot and Southern Right Whales, as well as the world’s smallest whale – the resident Hector’s dolphin. The blue whale […]

AKAROA AND BAYS WIN AT ELLERSLIE FLOWER SHOW

For the second year running, Akaroa had success at the Ellerslie International Flower show with an exhibit featuring the Akaroa lighthouse. It won the Gold Award for National Flower bed plants. There were thousands on hand to admire the display manned by Black Cat sales manager Alison Fleming. In addition images of the lighthouse (pictured) […]

WILDLIFE CRUISES BLOGGING FAVOURITES

We continue to receive great reviews on line on the many blogs and review sites. This is great feedback and very important to our marketing efforts. Here is one of my favourites and is a great example of the power of positive blogging. Here is a great blog from Michelle Acourt who did the Christchurch […]

BBC COMES TO AKAROA

The BBC produced reality show ‘Wanted Down Under’ was filming in Akaroa recently. With a massive audience of over 2 million viewers per episode the show is sure to raise the profile of New Zealand. This is the second time the show has featured Akaroa and Black Cat Cruises. The series is about British families, […]

ORCA VISIT AKAROA

Orca have been making regular visits to both Akaroa and Lyttelton Harbours recently. It’s thought pods range up and down the South Island. Orca are a natural predator of the Hector’s dolphins so though it’s an awesome sight its also good they move on! This shot was taken just outside the Akaroa Heads.

TOP 5 PLACES IN THE WORLD TO SWIM WITH DOLPHINS

You may also be interested to know the travel site “Travel Associates” based in Australia has just named Akaroa as one of the top 5 places in the world to swim with dolphins. The top 5 spots were: Akaroa, New Zealand Oahu and Kona, Hawaii Azores Archipelago Bimini, Bahamas The Red Sea Check out their […]

WALK FOR HECTOR’S A HUGE SUCCESS

Early in March 15 year old Aescleah Hawkins, supported by the WWF and Black Cat, walked from Christchurch to Akaroa with 10 others including Black Cat MD Paul Bingham to raise money and awareness of the Hector’s dolphins. The walk raised $16,000 and attracted lots of media attention with articles in The Press, Sunday Times […]