Swimming with Dolphins/Delphin schwimmen
Trip Start
Nov 29, 2005
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69
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Trip End
Sep 08, 2006
Where I stayed
Akaroa Banks Peninsular, New Zealand
Monday, August 21, 2006
20th to 21st August - Swimming with Dolphins in Akaroa
We leave Christchurch and have a very scenic drive to the Bank Penisular to our destination, Akaroa. On the way not only do we get some great views but we also get some free Mulled Wine and Cheese as a local restaurant, its hard life being a backpacker. Akaroa itself is a small town set on the Peninsular and was home to French settlers, back sometime ago so there is still has a lot of French influence on the town. Akaroa and the Banks Peninsular area is also the place where these very rare and small dolphins like to live and it was these that we wanted to see.
The Hector Dolphins or New Zealand Dolphins as they are know are the rarest and I think smallest dolphin in the world and they are only found on the coast of New Zealand.
It was a great day to go our and see them as the sun was out possibly warming the freezing water we were about to get into. We got kitted up in wetsuits, boots, gloves, and headed out on the boat keeping our eyes permanently on the water so we could spot them. We first spotted a group of about 5 swimming around so we got into the water. It was absolutely freezing a first, I mean really cold here but you soon got used to it and we were so excited to see the Dolphins swimming around us. Unfortunately it wasn't long until they headed off themselves so we got back onto the boat and set off again on the lookout. We then saw another group of about 4 and we got back in the water. They were also a bit shy a first but soon there was two that swam around us, right near Daniel for some reason. After a few minutes they then headed off too. Back on the boat and with some hot chocolate inside us we carried on cruising around on the lookout but unfortunately there were no more around. Even though we didn't see anymore Dolphins we were both so pleased to have seen what we did see and to have been in the water with these rare and beautiful animals. It was really an amazing and unforgettable experience. I want to go again!
Back in our lovely hostel 'Chez la mer', we recommend it to anyone coming over here, and we curled up by a lovely fire, had food and wine and reflected on our day.
The next day we had a walk around the town before getting some delicious fish and chips (I know, fish and chips again) and then getting the us back to Christchurch. The fish and chips by the way were the best we have had, the fish was Blue Cod and is was divine.
20ter bis 21ter August - Schwimmen mit Delphinen in Akaroa
Wir verliessen Christchurch am Morgen fuer einen Zwei Tages Ausflug auf die Banks Halbinsel. Die Fahrt war schoen und das Wetter schon wieder einfach fantastisch. Unser Ziel war Akaroa die einzige von Franzosen besiedelte Stadt in Neu Seeland und die Heimat der kleinsten und gefaehrdesten Delphinen der Welt den Hector Delphinen.
In Akaroa kann man mit Booten zu den Delphinen fahren und dann zu ihnen ins Wasser gehen. Obwohl es ein schoener Tag war ist es trotzdem Winter und das Meer Sau-Sau kalt nachdem wir also mit Riesigen unbequemen Thermo Anzuegen ausgeruestet waren gings Richtung Ozean. Der Hafen und die Halbinsel ist unglaublich schoen und nach kurzer Zeit sahen wir auch schon die ersten 5 Delphine um das Boot. Wir gingen ins Wasser, SAUKALT, jedoch waren die Delphine zu dem Zeitpunkt nicht sehr interessiert. Zurueck im Boot und wieder im Wasser bei den naechsten Delphinen. Die waren jetzt etwas mehr interessiert und zwei kamen auf mich zu und schwammen etwas um mich herum. Delphine sind wirklich wunderschoene Tiere und man merkt sofort das sie keine Fische sind. Es war ein tolles Erlebnis aber leider nur von kurzer Dauer. Dafuer bekamen wir dann teilweise unser Geld zurueck es war aber troztdem ein super Erlebnis. Zurueck in unserer Super Jugendherberge, waermten wir uns vor dem Feuer.
