Whale watching in New Zealand

Whale watching in New Zealand is predominantly centred around the areas of Kaikōura and the Hauraki Gulf.

[1] The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park (just outside Auckland city) is also a significant whale watching area with a resident population of Bryde's Whales commonly viewed alongside other cetaceans Common Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins and Orca.

Largely regarded as one of the most abundant and diverse marine reserves in the world, the Hauraki Gulf is home to several species of cetaceans, most notably Bryde's whales, Killer whales (Orca), Common Dolphins and Bottlenose Dolphins.

Situated just off the coast of New Zealand's largest city Auckland, the main whale watching operator Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari departs from the Viaduct Harbour and runs daily trips (weather permitting) into the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

[10] Other locations (or anywhere else) in the nation, such as at bays on Aupouri Peninsula, Rangaunu Harbour, Whangārei Harbour, Firth of Thames, Tamaki Bight, eastern Coromandel Peninsula,[11] Mount Maunganui, Hawke's Bay, Castlepoint, vicinity to Wellington, South Taranaki Bight, New Plymouth, Kapiti Island, Golden Bay, Hokitika, Banks Peninsula, Moeraki and Karitane, Otago Peninsula, Taieri Mouth, Nugget Point,[12] The Catlins,[13] Port Craig in Te Waewae Bay, Fiordland, Paterson Inlet, Chatham and Kermadec Islands may possibly become watching locations in the future when numbers of whales migrating into coastal waters show recovery.

Sighting numbers of Southern rights, Humpbacks, Blues are showing strong increases in recent years.

Minke whales can be seen off entire nation especially in Bay of Islands, but due to their small size it is not easy to observe them.