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Marine mammals, especially dolphins and seals (New Zealand fur
seals), are commonly seen all around New Zealand. After being
hunted relentlessly until the early 19th century, New Zealand
fur seal are re-establishing themselves. Colonies are common
in the South Island, and they have started to breed again in
the North Island. Nowadays sperm whales are the most commonly
seen and observed whales in New Zealand waters, but a number
of other species can also be seen. Southern right whales occasionally
return to the Cook Straits area where they were once common,
while minke, Bryde's and humpback whales are common visitors
to the Hauraki Gulf. The sub-antarctic islands have remained
a haven for several species of pinnipeds, and southern right
whales.
Learn more about Natural
history/Marine mammals of New Zealand.
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Only a few kilometres off Kaikoura Peninsula
the sea floor plunges to a depth of 1600 m (1 mile) in the Hikurangi
Trench. Conditions there favour the concentration of marine
species, particularly squid (including the giant species) on
which sperm whales feed. A a result Kaikoura has become one
of the leading whale watching centres in the world. Photo courtesy
of Canterbury Tourism.
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REGION
from N to S) |
LOCATION |
DETAILS and SPECIES |
| Locate these places
in maps: North
Island - South
Island |
| Northland |
Bay
of Islands |
Dolphins, orca, whales |
| Northland |
West coast |
NZ fur seals |
| Auckland |
Hauraki
Gulf |
Dolphins, orca, whales |
| Auckland |
West Coast |
NZ fur seals |
| Coromandel
Peninsula |
coast |
Dolphins |
| Bay of Plenty |
coast |
Dolphins |
| Hawkes Bay |
coast |
Dolphins |
| Taranaki |
Sugarloaf Islands, New Plymouth |
NZ fur seal colony |
| Wellington |
Turakirae Heads, Red Rocks Coastal
Walk |
NZ fur seal colony |
| Wairarapa |
Cape Palliser |
NZ fur seal colony |
| Nelson |
Abel
Tasman National Park |
NZ Fur seals (colony on Tonga
Island) |
| Marlborough |
Marlborough Sounds |
Dolphins |
| Marlborough |
Ohau Point |
NZ fur seal colony |
| Marlborough |
Kaikoura peninsula |
Dolphins, sperm whales, orca,
NZ fur seals |
| Canterbury |
Banks Peninsula |
Hector's dolphins, NZ fur seals |
| Otago |
Otago Peninsula |
NZ fur seal colony, dolphins |
| West Coast |
Westport/Cape Foulwind |
NZ fur seal colony |
| West Coast |
Greymouth/Point Elizabeth |
NZ fur seal colony |
| West Coast |
Gillespies Beach |
NZ fur seal colony |
| West Coast |
Knights Point |
NZ fur seal colony, southern
sea elephants |
| Fiordland |
Milford Sound |
Dolphins |
| Southland |
Catlins Coast, Nugget Point |
NZ fur seal colony |
| Southland |
Catlins coast: Cannibal Bay and
Waipapa lighthouse |
New Zealand (Hooker's) sea lion |
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Specific references for this page:
Brian Parkinson 1999: Discover
New Zealand Wildlife - What to See and Where to Find it.
Penguin.
Peter Gill: Whale
Watching in Australian and New Zealand Waters. New Holland.
Harold J. Anderson: Unique
Kaikoura: Whales, Rails and Tales. Craig Printing.
Neville Peat 1998: The
Catlins and the Southern Scenic Route. University of Otago
Press.
Neville Peat 2000: Stewart
Island, A Rakiura Ramble. University of Otago Press.
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