Welcome to Christchurch! We live in a diverse and scenic city, and while many visitors are attracted to the South Island for Alps and fjords, don’t discount the Sumner Beach Christchurch. Photo credit: Flickr city of Christchurch for some excellent sightseeing options. New Zealand’s second largest city and the biggest on the South Island, Christchurch […]
Category Archives: Wildlife Spotting
Akaroa and Lyttelton News, Akaroa New Zealand, Tourist Information, Wildlife Spotting
BLACK CAT LEADS THE PACK IN ECO-TOURISM
Black Cat may be well known as a tourism operator, but did you know that we’re also a leader in environmental management? From reducing energy consumption to donating a portion of every passenger fare to dolphin conservation, Black Cat takes extra measures to ensure the preservation of our environment. New Zealand’s first eco-tourism operator Established […]
Recently we were lucky enough to see a southern right whale in Lyttelton which appeared very relaxed and was even seen to rubbing itself up against the rocks near a beach. It seems it is not the first time this whale has done this because the attached video shows the same whale two years ago […]
Akaroa and Lyttelton News, Akaroa New Zealand, Hector's Dolphins, Wildlife Spotting
ONE IN A MILLION EXPERIENCE SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS
Black Cat Cruises guide Laura Hansen captured this amazing photo of a dolphin ‘spy-hopping’ in Akaroa Harbour. Jason Hagedorn, from Chicago, was swimming with dolphins when the dolphin raised vertically out of the water for an eye to eye encounter. Spy-hopping is the term given to a dolphin or whale raising its head vertically out […]
Our whale sighting activity continues with sighting of a Humpback Whale and Calf on the 23rd May, No doubt they are on their way north to warmer climes. There are more images on our Facebook page.
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 […]
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.
Akaroa and Lyttelton News, Akaroa New Zealand, Hector's Dolphins, Lyttelton New Zealand, Wildlife Spotting
DOLPHIN CALVES SIGHTED!
The first Hector’s dolphin calves of the year have appeared with two seen in Lyttelton last week and one in Akaroa Harbour. The dolphins are quite dark when first born and some have stripes which fade quickly. A baby Hectors is only marginally larger than a rugby ball, so they are quite vulnerable when first […]
We were very lucky to see a pod of whales outside the Akaroa heads recently. Here is a beautiful shot of one of the whale tails.
A lone Orca called Corkscrew was sighted in Akaroa Harbour on 11 June. Customers on board an Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise were able to get a close up look. The Orca can be identified by his dorsal fin markings and is well know by Ingrid Visser of the Orca Research Organisation. The big male is […]