With 20 years’ experience watching whales and dolphins in the Hauraki Gulf, we’ve heard (almost) every question before! Here are our top 5 most frequently asked questions about whale watching…
We mean it when we say any time of the year! The most commonly seen whale species on our whale watching trips is the Bryde’s whale and they can be found here year-round. They are not known to travel long distances (migrate) like other whales (such as humpback whales).
Bryde’s whales are only commonly seen along the north-eastern coastline of the North Island, and we are in the hotspot for those sightings. We also have a species of dolphin that is seen in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park year round – the common dolphin.
There are chances to see other non-resident marine mammals on our safaris too including orca, bottlenose dolphins and New Zealand fur seals. As you may have seen, we have had a fantastic year for pygmy blue whale sightings with this subspecies of blue whale also thought to live in New Zealand waters year-round.
In the winter and spring we could also get lucky and see migratory species such as humpback whales as they move between the tropics and the cooler, Antarctic waters.
Whale and dolphin watching trips are completely dependent on the wildlife and just like all wildlife tourism operators, we cannot guarantee on any trip that it will be possible to locate them (which is a part of the beauty of nature!).
We leave the Viaduct Harbour each day and as we only rely on natural cues in the environment to locate animals – you will literally be on safari with us (it’s in the name!).
However we do actually have a marine mammal sighting guarantee. We see whales and dolphins on more than 95% of our trips. If we are unlucky enough not to be able to locate marine mammals, then we issue complimentary vouchers.
These vouchers are a free ticket allowing the passenger to come back again, for free (that’s right!) until their trip locates marine mammals. The additional bonus is that the complimentary voucher NEVER expires.
There is no set time! We’re heading out into nature to view wild whales and dolphins in their environment, so there really is no telling when we will find them. Which leads us to the other part of the same question – ‘get to’, there is no set destination where we will find them. The time and place we find them depends on where the animals are. More often than not, they are wherever their food is!
Our knowledge and 20 years of experience means we can pick up on natural cues in the environment which indicate to us where this food might be. And the more people that are helping to look, the higher the chances of finding some wildlife!
We aren’t going to lie – if you’re going on a boat, there is a chance you could get seasick. Just like there’s a chance of getting motion sickness in a car. Motion sickness is caused by your brain receiving mixed messages about movement and the effect it is having on your body. Put simply, there is a sensory imbalance, particularly your eyes, inner ear, skin receptors and your muscles and joints.
Here in Auckland, the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is surrounded on three sides by the mainland and two barrier islands to the north. This means our search area is well protected from the elements (such as swell) and you are less likely to feel the motion of the ocean than if you were out in the open sea.
Our crew are well trained and experienced in handling passengers that are not feeling their best. You can also reduce your chances of feeling seasick by taking medication in advance or trying natural remedies like ginger (we find ginger beer and ginger nut biscuits can really help!). There are other options available too, such as Seabands. Some of these options are available to purchase on board.
Our trip status depends on various weather conditions, but rain is not the main factor. In fact, it often rains more over land than the sea, so while it may look like a not-so-nice day from your bedroom or hotel window, it may actually be a stunning day out on the water.
Of course, it also works the other way round – what looks like a lovely, sunny day in the city could actually be a grotty day on the water.
The main weather conditions that we look at are the wind speed and direction. A higher wind speed causes bigger waves and therefore bumpier conditions. This is not as enjoyable for our passengers (or crew!) and can reduce the chances of locating animals. We have a limit to which we will safely operate the Dolphin Explorer.
To find out more answers to your questions, head on over to our Frequently Asked Questions page
Dolphins and whales are closely related. Orcas were given the name ‘killer whale’ by ancient sailors’ observations of groups of orcas hunting and preying on larger whale species. They called orcas ballena asesina, or ‘killer whale.’ Their Latin name, Orcinus orca, also reflects this observation of orcas feeding on large whales. Orcinus translates to ‘of the kingdom of the dead,’ and orca refers to a kind of whale. We know that orcas are top predators, yes, but not the vicious ‘whale killers’ that the ancient mariners thought them to be. If you could give orcas another name, what would you call them?
Looking at all populations, orcas are generalist eaters, consuming fish, seals and sea lions, dolphins and porpoises, sharks and rays, large whales, cephalopods (octopods and squids), seabirds and more. However, some orcas specialise on specific prey, and it turns out orcas are picky eaters! Once they’ve learned what their family eats, they aren’t likely to switch diets.
Orcas sleep in a very different way to humans. We have a breathing reflex and when we sleep or become unconscious, we continue to breath automatically. Orcas cannot sleep in this way, they have to remain conscious, even when they are sleeping! This is because their breathing is not automatic - they have to actively decide when to breath, and so they must be conscious even when sleeping. If like us, orcas went into a deep unconscious sleep, they would stop breathing and suffocate or drown.
To get around this, orcas only allow one half of their brains to sleep at a time; the other half stays alert enabling them to continue breathing whilst looking out for dangers in the environment. They only close one eye when they sleep; the left eye will be closed when the right half of the brain sleeps, and vice versa. This type of sleep is known as unihemispheric sleep as only one brain hemisphere sleeps at a time. Orcas periodically alternate which side is sleeping so that they can get the rest they need without ever losing consciousness. When sleeping, orcas swim very slowly and steadily, close to the surface.
In orca populations, knowledge is passed down to younger individuals from their elders – what to eat and were to find it, how to catch it, who to avoid, vocalisations and calls unique to pods and family groups, and the distinct ‘accent’ of the population. Having multiple prey items to choose from probably led to the niche specialisations we see today – millions of year ago, different groups started eating different things to avoid competing for the same food. Now these groups are genetically different, in addition to their unique appearance and cultures.