It was a toss-up between the Dolphin Encounter Tour and the Albatross Encounter Tour and I’m so glad I chose the Albatross Tour. Don’t expect a large passenger vessel, plush seats and a drinks bar. This tour will appeal to a niche market of nature lovers – those who relish close-up encounters with birdlife.
It’s a rocky ride in parts and sometimes you’ll have to hang on for dear life – but it is beyond exhilarating.
There were only 4 of us on this jet-boat trip to the Kaikoura Peninsula (love those small groups). Gary, our Skipper has a legendary knowledge of New Zealand native birds, especially those of the Kaikoura Region and he’s a heck of a nice guy.
If you’re prone to seasickness, take the medication an hour before departure. When the boat’s going full steam ahead, you’ll probably be ok but once it stops and that gentle rocking begins, you might get squeamish. Gary told me to look at the landforms. It helps. Aha, the chum bag is being lowered and the Petrels begin swooping down all around us. It’s a 4D experience and the first time I’ve been at eye level with so many birds!
I’ve always admired the way Bird & Wildlife photographers can get that perfect shot in motion… can it be that hard? Yes it can and I’m lucky if I get these guys in the frame! Gary lowers the chum bag filled with the yummy fish livers…time for me to look at the horizon for a while. Hey, what a well behaved bunch of guys… all quietly waiting their turn…
…suddenly all hell breaks loose – the old favs are back on the menu and news travels fast. The hierarchy is quickly established.
The giant Petrels are incredibly aggressive and I admire the bravery of the small Petrels as they skilfully dart around the stabbing beaks of their larger cousins.
For me, the most heart-stopping moment was sighting two species of Albatross from the Great Albatross family – the Wandering Albatross and the Royal Albatross. These guys can live to 60 years of age and only breed every two years. I could hear the whomping sound of those huge wings as they passed the boat and wanted to reach out and touch them. Sometimes you just have to put your camera down.
As they folded their massive wings behind them and floated next to the boat for a feed, I was struck by how timid and shy they were towards the Giant Petrels.
Pound for pound, they are heavier.
But they’re playing it safe and who can blame them while this sort of preening is going on:
We’re having a very lucky day. Overall, we counted 45 Huttons Shearwaters, an endemic species only found in Kaikoura. Along the way we saw sea fur seals and a couple of frolicking dolphins. The male dolphin was enjoying a mating dance with a female. Thankfully, no missionary has ever tried to convert the Dolphin world. The female dolphins stays on top to mate, while the male stays underneath her.
The agility of dolphins is impressive as is their infectious joy of life, but the impression I’ll take away with me from this tour is the beautiful birdlife we encountered and for now, they get the last word.
Happy travelling.
