Wildlife Holidays

Whale watching has always played an important role in Discover the World holidays. From Iceland to New Zealand, the Arctic to Antarctica, encounters with these magnificent 'creatures of the deep' provide wonderful memories. In parcticular Iceland and New Zealand provide some of the best options for whale watching holidays.

Whale Watching in Iceland

Whale watching excursions are available from Reykjavik and from Husavik in the north of Iceland and can be incorporated in any of our independent holidays. Find out more»

Here are some of the reasons why Iceland is so popular as a whale watching destination.

Species galore
Around one quarter of the world's cetacean species have been recorded in Iceland's nutrient-rich waters. Minke whale, humpback whale, blue whale, fin whale, sei whale, sperm whale, orca, pilot whale, white-beaked dolphin and harbour porpoise are regularly encountered. There are often surprises as well - previously, three rare northern bottlenose whales showed up.

Boats for all seas
Whether your trip is a sheltered fjord cruise or an adventure on the open seas, the boats used are tried and tested for the conditions, expertly crewed and offer ample deck space for viewing and photographing.

Reliable sightings
Accurate sightings records are kept and while every year is different, we know where particular species are most likely to be seen. At Husavik in 2008, there were reliable sightings of humpback whales (68% of voyages), Minke whale (48%), and white beaked dolphins (28%). 98% of voyages were marked as successful, meaning that something bigger than a porpoise was clearly visible to all on the boat.

The bird life
Iceland boasts huge colonies of nesting seabirds and on whale watching trips you may also encounter puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars and glaucos gulls.

View our collection of Iceland holidays »

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Whale & Dolphin Watching in New Zealand

With thousands of miles of unspoiled coast and unpolluted nutrient-rich seas, New Zealand’s coastal waters attract a variety of whales and dolphins, which can be spotted from the shore and on boat excursions. Sperm whales, dusky dolphins, common dolphins and Hector’s dolphins are the species most commonly observed.

The only reliable place to see whales in New Zealand is at Kaikoura. Mighty sperm whales, the largest of the toothed whales, gather to feed just a few miles off this seaside town on the east coast of the South Island. Visitors can enjoy sightings of them on a whale watching cruise or during a thrilling scenic flight over the ocean. Acrobatic dusky dolphins and occasionally other species are also observed on these trips and on special dolphin swimming excursions. Hector’s dolphins are one of the smallest species and are only found around New Zealand. They are most commonly seen around the South Island on boat trips from Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula and from some of the West Coast beaches, where they can be seen frolicking in the surf.

Common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins are frequently encountered in New Zealand’s coastal waters along with visiting orca and humpback whales.

Here is a list of places throughout New Zealand where dolphin watching and where dolphin swimming trips operate:

North Island
Paihia (Bay of Islands)*
Whakatane (Bay of Plenty)*
Auckland

South Island
Kaikoura*
Akaroa (Banks Peninsula)*
Milford & Doubtful Sounds
Marlborough Sounds
* offers the chance to swim with dolphins, when conditions are right but cannot be guaranteed

Holidays
For those with a specific interest in cetacean encounters, we offer an exclusive 20-day self drive touring holiday, Cetacean Explorer »

Whale watching excursions in the above regions can also be incorporated into your independent touring itinerary. Contact our team for further information.