Whale Watch Kaikoura crosses Tasman
20 Nov 2007
New Zealand tourism operator Whale Watch Kaikoura is joining forces with Australian marine park 'Sea World' to open up whale watching opportunities on the Gold Coast.
Whale Watch chairman Wally Stone says both companies are committed to providing a quality whale watching experience, while carefully managing the natural environment.
The joint venture will open in May 2008, and operate daily from June to November during the annual humpback whale migration along the Gold Coast.
It is hoped the joint venture could raise the profile of whale watching
and help convince Japanese visitors of the importance of preserving the
world's largest mammal. Japan will for the first time add 50 humpbacks
to its annual scientific cull of 1000 whales in the Southern Ocean,
with a fleet expected to leave for the Antarctic within days.
Whale Watch Kaikoura
Whale Watch Kaikoura, formed in 1987, is a 100 percent Maori-owned company - of which, 43.5 percent is owned by Ngai Tahu Tourism.
The award-winning operation takes up to 100,000 passengers a year off the coast of Kaikoura on an environmentally enlightening journey to see whales, dolphins, seals and a wide variety of pelagic and coastal birds in their natural environment.
Mr Stone said Whale Watch Kaikoura would invest NZ$5 million in the venture. A $3.4 million, 24m state-of-the-art whale watching vessel would be built, to comfortably carry more than 100 passengers.
Sea World has worked with marine mammals on the Australian Gold Coast since 1971,
and is part of Village Roadshow Limited - Australia's largest theme
park owner and operator.
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