Akaroa, New Zealand (Aotearoa)
43° 34' S 172° 34' E
Dec 26, 2003 20:53
Distance 7km

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Swimming with Hector's Dolphins

Text written in: English

We went from Christchurch to a hostel on the Banks Peninsula, in a tiny town called Onuku, just outside of the French village of Akaroa. The hostel huts was cheap and pretty rustic - a few sheets of corrugated metal stuck together. But the kitchens were good and the location was amazing; it was a 1000-acre farm on a cliff over Akaroa Harbour. We went for a walk along the shore, where Cat finally got to chase sheep, which she's decided is her favourite New Zealand activity.
The next morning we went on a dolphin swimming trip run by the hostel owners. After about half an hour on the water, we got in the water with a group of 10 or so dolphins, which were circling us. They seemed to like the sound of zippers and the winder on Cat's underwater camera, since they always approached when they heard them. They would interact with us too, swimming beside us and changing direction when we did. We swam for about an hour, and then went on a sightseeing cruise around the harbour. Getting so close to and having the chance to interact with dolphins was one of the best things we've done in New Zealand so far -- we couldn't believe how close they got to us!

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Photos / videos of "Swimming with Hector's Dolphins":

Laundry drying in front of the Onuku Farm Hostel. View of Akaroa Harbour from the grounds of the Onuku Farm Hostel. Sheep just ripe for chasing. Cat chasing sheep. This happened fairly regularly. It's so tempting! Look very closely. Can you see the tiny baby bird under the plant? Sailboat on Akaroa Harbour. Matt on the walking tracks around Onuku Farm Hostel. Sheep placidly munching above Onuku Farm Hostel. This sheep gave us a very knowing look before taking off running immediately before we started chasing it. Akaroa Harbour. Why does Cat insist on taking so many sheep photos? This one looks like he's flying. Purple lupins on the walking trail by the Onuku Farm Hostel. Arch construction in the rocks in Akaroa Harbour. Matt gazing nobly off into the distance at Akaroa Harbour. Cat on the walking trail near Onuku Farm Hostel. A tiny, perfect butterfly came to rest for a moment before fluttering off. Matt on the walking trails by Onuku Farm Hostel. A very small waterfall by the tree preserve near Onuku Farm Hostel. The bush suddenly became very lush on the walking trail. Cat clambering over rocks way off the walking trail. The gate was locked. There was a warning sign. Wouldn't you have climbed over it and gone anyway? Akaroa Harbour. It's a rough life, travelling. Honest. Cat making potato latkes and Kraft Dinner (her mom sent it from Canada). Also baked beans. The huts at the Onuku Farm Hostel were a bit on the rustic side -- they were awesome! When we stopped to figure out why our car was making a new, fun noise, a friendly donkey came over to say hello. Akaroa. The original Akaroa Courthouse, complete with faux judge, defendant and prosecution. Hectors dolphin skeleton. Interesting sculpture by the Akaroa Visitors' Centre. On the road out of Akaroa.
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