Dolphin Watching Tour
Wild Dolphins, Rare Birds & Calm Waters
Cruise through the sheltered Marlborough Sounds in search of wild dolphins, seals, seabirds, and breathtaking coastal scenery on E-Ko’s relaxed small-group wildlife adventure.
Why You’ll Love This Tour:
- 🐬 See wild dolphins up close – watch playful pods in their natural habitat
- 🌊 Calm, sheltered cruising – smooth waters, no seasickness guaranteed
- 📸 Unbeatable photo moments – dolphins so close you’ll only need your phone
- 👨🏫 Expert local guides – fun, friendly and full of marine knowledge
- 💚 Support conservation – every tour helps protect our marine life
Tour info in brief
| 1-2 hours | |
| Daily Departures: |
8.00 AM, 10.00 AM, 12.00 AM , 14.00 PM |
| Pricing: | Adult: $168 (16+ years) Child: $84 (5 – 15 years) Infant: $42 (0 – 4 years) |
| Location: | 1 Wellington Street, Picton |
| Briefing: | 15 Minutes before Departure |
No Seasickness Guarantee
Relax in the knowledge that you’ll be with the only NZ operator that guarantees you will not get seasick.
Learn about our commitment to sustainability
About the Tour
Experience one of New Zealand’s most remarkable dolphin encounters in the calm sheltered waters of the Marlborough Sounds. E-Ko Tours has been guiding dolphin experiences for more than 30 years, creating unforgettable wildlife encounters focused on conservation, education, and meaningful connection with nature.
Cruise through this unique marine environment in search of Dusky, Bottlenose, Common, Orca, and the rare Hector’s dolphins — the world’s smallest and rarest dolphin species. Watching dolphins leap, surf, socialise, and quietly approach the vessel in their natural habitat is an experience that stays with people long after they leave the Sounds.
Operating in the protected waters of the Marlborough Sounds allows us to offer a relaxed small-group experience with little to no ocean swell, making this one of the most comfortable dolphin viewing experiences in New Zealand. Our low-profile vessels bring guests closer to the water while our experienced wildlife guides share fascinating insights into dolphin behaviour, marine conservation, and the wider ecosystem of the Sounds.
Along the way, we also commonly encounter New Zealand fur seals, seabirds, penguins, and other marine wildlife that thrive throughout this extraordinary region.
Looking for even more wildlife? Our Dolphin Viewing & Motuara Island Sanctuary experience also includes a guided visit to one of New Zealand’s most important predator-free wildlife sanctuaries, home to rare native birds and breathtaking panoramic views across the Marlborough Sounds.
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What to expect
Meet the Dolphins 🐬
Cruise through the calm sheltered waters of the Marlborough Sounds in search of Dusky, Bottlenose, Common, Orca, and the rare Queen Charlotte Hector’s dolphins — one of the world’s rarest dolphin populations. Whether quietly travelling alongside the vessel or performing playful leaps, backflips, and social displays, dolphins are always an unforgettable sight in the wild.
Our experienced World Cetacean Alliance-trained wildlife guides will help you understand dolphin behaviour, marine conservation, and the unique ecosystem of the Marlborough Sounds while ensuring every encounter is respectful, educational, and memorable.
Guided Wildlife Encounters
As a permitted Department of Conservation operator, E-Ko is authorised to respectfully seek out and interact with all marine mammal species found throughout the region. Once dolphins are located, we carefully position the vessel to provide exceptional viewing, photography, and video opportunities while following strict wildlife interaction guidelines.
More Than Just Dolphins 🐦
The Marlborough Sounds is home to far more than dolphins. During your cruise, we also commonly encounter New Zealand fur seals, little blue penguins, shearwaters, gannets, and a variety of seabirds that thrive throughout this remarkable marine environment.
Relax and enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, and cookies as we cruise through the spectacular coastal scenery on the return journey to Picton.
No Seasickness Guarantee 🌊
Unlike many marine wildlife tours in New Zealand, E-Ko operates primarily within the calm protected waters of the Marlborough Sounds where there is little to no ocean swell. We are the only operator in New Zealand confident enough to offer a full No Seasickness Guarantee on all tours.
Small-Group Eco Experience
This is a relaxed small-group wildlife experience — not a crowded mass-tourism operation. Our purpose-built vessels carry a maximum of 30 guests with experienced wildlife guides onboard to provide a more personal and meaningful encounter with nature.
Certified Responsible Wildlife Tourism
E-Ko is the only marine mammal operator in New Zealand holding both DOC Certified Operator status and World Cetacean Alliance certification. A portion of your tour directly supports marine conservation and responsible wildlife tourism initiatives.
Dolphin Watching Tour Times ⏰
Briefing: 20 minutes before departure
Departures:
8:00 AM
10:00 AM
12:00 PM
2:00 PM
Duration:
Approximately 1–2 hours
Winter Special Deals
Available 1 June – 31 October
Please call 03 573 8040
What to bring
- Phone/Camera for Photo’s
- Sunglasses
- Suncream
- A sense of adventure!
Where are we?
We are located conveniently on Picton’s main waterfront with car parking close by and only a 1-minute walk from the main street.
Just look for the Dusky Dolphin outside our shop.
Before your tour starts feel free to take a seat inside the shop or outside on our sun drenched deck and enjoy the stunning views.
Customers can also get online with our free WiFi, and purchase a tea or coffee to enjoy on the deck.
You will Never Miss your Ferry
Our tour schedules are integrated with the Interislander – so there is no chance that you’ll miss your ferry.