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Seal Swim

Join these playful and curious creatures at close quarters in their environment. Our low impact eco friendly swim allows these beautiful animals to respond in their own way.

Aqua Taxi will take you on a 45 min scenic cruise up into the Tonga Island Marine Reserve area. Your briefing takes place on beautiful Onetahuti beach. Following the briefing you will be whisked over to Tonga Island by Aqua Taxi where you will experience a one hour low impact eco friendly swim with the seals Kekeno.

Adult $179
Child* $130 (age 12+)
Add $13 for lunch

* Ratio of 1child:1adult until the age of 15

Seal Watch

Join the seal watch crew and share in all the sights of the Seal Swim.
Board the Aqua Taxi for a 45 minute scenic ride to Tonga Island. Learn about the behaviour and breeding patterns of the seals kekeno before watching the swimmers interacting with the seals.

Adult $90
Child* $70 (age 12+)
Add $13 for lunch

* Ratio of 1child:1adult until the age of 15

Ask us about having a full day in the park. Add a walk option from $20 or a kayak option from $99.

Tours only operate during the summer season. On certain days we operate a second trip.

Check-in times are tide dependant please confirm at time of booking.

 

Check in is at 8.30am, 10am, 11.15am and 1pm and is tide dependent.

Return times are approximately 5 hours after departure.

We provide top quality 5mm wetsuits, mask, snorkel, fins and hood. You bring sunscreen, warm top (wool/fleece), swimsuit, towel, insect repellent, wind jacket and camera, personal water bottle and something to eat. Please bring medication if you are prone to motion sickness.

The seals kekeno are not fed or tamed, so their behavior will vary according to the tide, wave conditions, water visibility, feeding pattern and stage of the season. Most days we will sight them in the water and interact with them.

• Baby seals are inquisitive and curious - often approaching humans to investigate.
• The Tonga Island seals eat squid, anchovy, pilchard and Jack Mackerel.
• Seals nearly got hunted to extinction but they are now protected by NZ law.
• Early Europeans hunted seals for their fur. Maori used the skins for clothing, their teeth as fish hooks and their oil for colds.
• NZ Fur Seals are called Kekeno in Maori pronounced Ke-ke-nor, translating to ‘look around’.
• The scientific name for the NZ Fur Seal is Arctocephalus Fosteri.
• Pups are left together in coastal creches for several days while the females return to sea to feed.
• When seals are in the water they are relaxed and interactive.
• Seals mate again a week after giving birth.
• When a seal mates it takes about 5-45 minutes. They mate both in and out of the water.
• Pups nurse for about 10 months or 300 days.
• Seals live for about 15 years.

Driving Times

Marahau - Motueka: 20mins
Marahau - Nelson: 60mins
Marahau - Picton: 3 hours

Contact Details:

Check-in/Postal: Kayak Abel Tasman base, Main Rd, RD2 Marahau 7197
Freephone: 0800 732 529
Phone: +64 3 527 8022
Email: info@sealswim.com

 

Cancellation Policy: There will be times when we choose to cancel an Abel Tasman Seal Swim tour. A decision will be generally made at 7am each morning after we have received the latest weather forecast and assessed wind, swell and water clarity. When we cancel a trip, clients receive a full refund of any money previously paid. If however you decide to cancel your booking within 48 hours of departure you will incur a 50% cancellation fee. Cancellation by clients within 24 hours of day of departure and no-shows – No refund will be made. All other client cancellations prior to 48hrs incur a 10% administration/cancellation fee. Our full cancellation policy can be seen at www.sealswim.com

Pricing: Prices are valid at time of printing for 2011/2012 season. Abel Tasman Seal Swim reserves the right to alter trip times and prices during the season.

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