A short history of whale strandings in new zealand history geek. Over the next 10 years, the seas around new zealand became a popular place to catch whales. Whale watch is located in the small coastal town of kaikoura on the east coast of new zealands south island a scenic two and a halfhour drive north from christchurch and. Paparoa national park rafting and jetboating in the buller gorge are also popular. Taking in epic coastline and pristine beaches to create an exciting offthebeatentrack adventure, for the perfect 14day new zealand experience. Columbia river bar pilots risk their lives to guide cargo ships. If you enjoy bustling market shopping, head over to the matakana country market for handmade or homegrown arts, crafts and goods. If you are ready to contribute to our efforts to reduce ship strikes to whales along. Thousands of people watch them on their northern migration which begins in baja california and ends in their artic feeding grounds in the chukchi and bering seas. Next we will visit a fur seal colony before heading into kaikoura for some free. Kawatiri is a town in the west coast region of the south island of new. Westport attractions include the fur seal colony at cape foulwind and the coaltown museum. Seal colony tauranga bay near westport new zealand. Ellis charitable trust administered by bank of america.
As a geographically isolated country with many unique plants and animals, new zealand has a strong interest in species conservation. If you are looking for the experience of a lifetime, come visit us in westport, washington and view some magnificent gray whales. Each charter company sets their own departure schedules and. Westport charterboat association vessels engage in all types of recreational fishing and whale watching activities. Learn from experts on board working to protect these precious creatures and their fragile home.
New zealand is renowned for having a plethora of tourist attractions, but few have the broad appeal of whale watching. Search for other boat tours in westport on the real yellow pages. Westport kaikoura greymouth kaikoura forum tripadvisor. Whale watching in kaikoura nz kaikoura whale watching new. Edward davoll, captains specific orders these photographs are a sample of the imposing characters who served as master on whaling voyages out of westport. Accounts of whale strandings in new zealand through the 1920s and 1930s seem to mark a slow shift in attitude. Beaked whales live in the open ocean and dive around 300m for squid. Cape foulwind is a prominent headland on the west coast of new zealands south island, overlooking the tasman sea. It was a major economic activity for europeans in new zealand in the first four decades of the 19th century. Journey through the north island of new zealand and explore waitomo, rotorua and lake taupo, and discover the natural beauty of kaikoura and christchurch on this 5day trip from auckland to christchurch or vice versa. The police marine unit responded to investigate and found the whale near cockenoe island.
Contact individual charter offices for pricing information. Whales are a very common sight in the waters off kaikoura because of a 2kilometre underwater canyon that sits beside the coast. Mar 17, 2010 whale watching in westport originally published march 17, 2010 at 7. Auckland whale and dolphin safari a day trip cruising on aucklands hauraki gulf observing dolphins and whales at play in their natural environment aboard a comfortable catamaran one of nz s best boat trips right here in auckland bookme is the home of the epic deals and last minute discounts on all holiday adventures. Whale watching off new zealands kaikoura coast has become a major tourist attraction. I am planning to visit south island nz in july 21 to aug 23. As an active marinemammal research vessel every passenger contributes to important conservation efforts, just by coming on board. Auckland offers some of the best shopping in new zealand. Protecting whales new zealand ministry of foreign affairs. Farther south, along the west coast, in westport, there is also a long history of. As you can see every month is good to seeing something, but the winter months mayjuly probably give the greatest range, including the occasional orca whale. Gray whales get up to 47 feet in length and weigh as much as 70,000 pounds. Am thinking of flying over a little earlier for solo trip and then meet up with my friends for the rest of the journey. Whale watch is located in the small coastal town of kaikoura on the east coast of new zealands south island a scenic two and a halfhour drive north from christchurch and two hour drive south from picton.
Kaikoura is known as new zealands whalewatching mecca. Just imagine coming eye to eye with a 15metre sperm whale its an experience you wont forget. Westport, ct a large humpback whale was spotted off the coast of westport friday morning. My 16 favourite things to do on new zealands south island. The resident population of sperm whales at kaikoura can be seen all year round. There is a complete whale skeleton on display at the westport maritime museum. Whale watching in westport 2411 westhaven dr westport wa 98595 usa. Christchurch canterbury, whale watching in new zealand. Whale watch kaikoura kaikoura tour hasslefree tours. Unlike many coastal locations where whalewatching is driven by migration, whale. Three other beaked whales found occasionally in new zealand are arnouxs, cuviers, and the straptoothed beaked whale.
A new zealandbased car hire with rental depots throughout nz. Westport wants to welcome you to the wonders of whale watching. Moutohora is a small uninhabited island located off the bay of plenty coast of new zealands north island, about 9 kilometres 5. Located on the west coast of the south island at the mouth of the buller river, westport harbour provides a sheltered haven for fishing and leisure boats. Whale motuhora island forms the summit of a largely submerged pleistocene daciticandesitic complex volcano that lies 11 km offshore from whakatane in the bay of plenty.
The 354mhigh central dome complex is flanked by east. Hotels near kaikoura whale watching tour, new zealand. Photos of whaling masters on westport vessels westport. This full day tour includes a scenic drive from christchurch over the canterbury plains before arriving in the majestic seaside village of kaikoura. There were plenty of them, and new zealand provided safe waters and a place to stock up on food and wood. Auckland dolphin and whale watching ecosafari cruise 2020. The majestic california gray whale can be seen off the washington coast every year in march, april and may. Man, orcas, and large sharks are gray whales only predators. Mar 16, 2016 whalers caused the new zealand population of southern right whales to crash from around 30,000 to just 110, an international team of researches has estimated. Credits a perilous life was created by the following. Posted on april 28, 2008 by greg stone i am here to conduct the voyage.
Artists oceanside house with whale cottages for rent in. A lot of american and french whalers arrived in the 1830s. Another group range from the marlborough sounds to westport. Kaikoura, on the east coast of the south island, is one of the only places in the world where you can easily see sperm whales. A perilous life westport whaling westport historical society. Westport new zealand, westport travel, tourism, accommodation. Apr 28, 2008 photos of whaling masters on westport vessels. These trips are very economical and enjoyable for all ages. Perhaps its the aweinspiring sight of these majestic creatures at close quarters, or the fact that you get to tour on a boat or in the air and see other. Tourism numbers, expenditures and economic benefits. A car goes by, a bicyclist or walker passes, swallows dip and dart.
Auckland is the largest city in new zealand but it is the diversity of experiences in. It is located ten kilometres west of the town of westport. Kiakoura on the east coast of the south island is also a great whale watching region. New zealand is therefore at the southern most point of their range. Marine life the new kaikoura marine management area developed to conserve kaikouras whales, dolphins, seals, albatrosses, rock lobster, shellfish and finfish was formally opened by conservation minister dr nick smith on the 6th of august, 2014. These trips leave around daylight and return midafternoon or when limits are taken. All the charter boats in westport are coast guard certified, and have licensed crews. Westport harbour supplies berthage and marine services. Browse vibrant shopping districts like high street and chancery home to a worldclass collection of boutique and designer stores. Welcome to your virtual library without walls free for buller district library members. During these decades stranded whales were still often looked upon as commodities but there were also some early efforts to try and rescue them, sometimes by attaching them by rope to a boat and attempting to tow them into deeper water.
Sperm whales, the largest of the toothed whales, grow to over 15 metres in length. Nz southern right whale population crashed from around to. They vary in length from 3m to m, they have a small head, beak and bulging forehead. The best whale watching spots in new zealand hostelbookers. Watchable wildlife westportgrayland chamber of commerce.
The tagged whales route around the south island starting off westport, going through cook strait and then down the east coast. Westport accommodation, things to do and travel information. South island downloadable zone is brought to you by a group of public libraries in the south island of new zealand working cooperatively to provide free downloadable ebooks and audiobooks to their customers. New zealand is renowned as one of the worlds best whale watching destinations, and this unique wildlife encounter should be on every visitors itinerary. Auckland whale and dolphin safari epic deals and last. Farewell spits long, protruding coastline is a confusing hazard for pilot whales, with the navigation system echo location thought to be less effective near the gentle sloping beaches.
The first whaling ship, from america, came to new zealand waters in 1791. If you need help identifying species, download the marine mammal sighting form. A short history of whale strandings in new zealand. Traditionally our charters go out into the pacific ocean daily each spring from the first of march and on through most of may.
Westport for seal colony kaikoura for whale watching and then go to grey mouth to meet my friends. Thousands of people watch them on their northern migration which begins in baja california and ends in their. Westport is a port town, located in northern west coast, new zealand. Barbara moss jenny oneill sally sapienza bill wyatt website designed by greg stone this web exhibition is supported by the westport cultural council through a grant from the helen e. The island is 15 x 5 km wide and elongated in an eastwest direction. Once in kaikoura we will make our way to a lookout to enjoy spectacular views of this pretty seaside village, the majestic mountains and the beautiful pacific ocean. Come and fly with wings over whales and experience a unique perspective soaring above the wildlife and scenery. Though still in very small numbers, whales such as southern right whales are started. You can read my full 3 week new zealand south island itinerary at this post here or you download.
Arnouxs beaked whale, or the southern fourtooth whale berardius arnouxi, has two pairs of teeth, one at the front of the jaw and one further back. Humpback whale spotted off westport coast westport, ct patch. Feb 10, 2017 with daylight fading, rescuers at farewell spit face an anxious wait to see whether the 80 to 90 whales stranded there survive the night. Discover iconic hotspots and hidden gems on this road trip through both of new zealands islands. Westport harbour news recreational waterbased activities at alert level 3 recreational boaties, kayakers, paddleboarders or anyone undertaking recreational activities on the water are urged to play their part in the fight. Whalers caused the new zealand population of southern right whales to crash from around 30,000 to just 110, an international team of researches has estimated. The charter offices in westport, washington offer whale watching trips every spring.
Westport new zealand activities westport activities, attractions and things to do. Westport whale watch 2601 westhaven dr, westport, wa 98595. Whalewatching in westport originally published march 17, 2010 at 7. Auckland whale and dolphin safari a day trip cruising on aucklands hauraki gulf observing dolphins and whales at play in their natural environment aboard a comfortable catamaran one of nzs best boat trips right here in auckland bookme is the home of the epic deals and. Almost half the worlds 80 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises are found in. The harbour is ideally located for exporting and importing cargo via the west coast. Thanks for a wonderful 2 hours in akaroa on your beautiful boat it was the perfect end to an awesome holiday great crew and gorgeous dog and very yummy cookies i would highly recommend this trip captain mark and his lovely crew including sidney the dog. Almost half the worlds 80 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises are found in our waters. The grays, arnoux, caviers and the southern straptoothed whale is the most common seen in new zealand waters. On this private helicopter tour, see kaikouras yearround whale populations without jostling for a spot to see them. Whalewatching is a popular pastime for visitors to kaikoura, which means that the towns many whalewatching cruises can get crowded. While kaikoura in the south island is new zealands whale watching capital, you can go whale watching all. With daylight fading, rescuers at farewell spit face an anxious wait to see whether the 80 to 90 whales stranded there survive the night. White island tours offer tours of moutohora whale island one of new zealands littleknown treasures, departing from whakatane.
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