Make a splash with a seal swim
Swimming amongst wild seals is an exciting experience for visitors to Tonga Island Marine Reserve.
Located near Nelson at the top of the South Island, the Abel Tasman Seal Swim provides visitors with an opportunity to get close to New Zealand fur seals in their natural environment. Seals are curious creatures and those swimming with them will see how nimble they are in the water. Visitors have the option of swimming with the seals or observing them from the island.
Aqua Taxi and Kaiteriteri Kayaks run the tours from November to May each year. During this time the seals are in various stages of the breeding and birthing cycle and the water temperatures are at their best for swimming.
Visitors are practically guaranteed to see the seals. Tonga Island is home to these seals, so these creatures can always be seen either in the water or basking in the sun on the rocks.
In the past, New Zealand seals were hunted almost to extinction for their fur. Today they are fully protected. On Tonga Island Marine Reserve, seal numbers are on the rise, with an estimated 200 seals residing in the area.
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
