This is just a little note to thank Black Cat Cruises for a wonderful trip. We took our two little people out on your Lyttelton Wildlife Cruise on Monday (Labour Day). The weather was perfect and we saw lots of dolphins, one busy young fur seal, some nesting shags and other sea birds. The skipper […]
Our new location in Lyttelton is two doors down and we are now located at 5 Norwich Quay. We will have a big sign on the old building so any customers reporting to the old address will easily be redirected to the new one. Meantime work is completed on the repairs to the Akaroa wharf […]
Recently we were lucky enough to see a southern right whale in Lyttelton which appeared very relaxed and was even seen to rubbing itself up against the rocks near a beach. It seems it is not the first time this whale has done this because the attached video shows the same whale two years ago […]
The Great Quail island treasure hunt is on from 1st December to 31st March. Grab a map and hunt out the clues located all over the island. Every correct entry wins a prize valued at $5 and one lucky entrant will win a holiday in Stewart Island. Ferries depart daily at 10.20am and 12.20pm.
Akaroa and Lyttelton News, Akaroa New Zealand, Hector's Dolphins, Wildlife Spotting
ONE IN A MILLION EXPERIENCE SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS
Black Cat Cruises guide Laura Hansen captured this amazing photo of a dolphin ‘spy-hopping’ in Akaroa Harbour. Jason Hagedorn, from Chicago, was swimming with dolphins when the dolphin raised vertically out of the water for an eye to eye encounter. Spy-hopping is the term given to a dolphin or whale raising its head vertically out […]
I just wanted to pass on a big thank you to Hamish and Julian for a wonderful trip swimming with the amazing Hector’s dolphins on Sunday. It was a truly incredible experience made even better by their shared knowledge and enthusiasm which was inspiring. I ended up with some pretty good pics so thought I […]
Akaroa and Lyttelton News, Akaroa New Zealand, Black Cat News
FIRST BLACK CAT CRUISE CUSTOMER COMES FORWARD
After an exhaustive search we have found one of the very first passengers from the first cruise in 1985. Brian Woods took part in the inaugural service and we have presented Brian with free cruises for the rest of his life. Brian joined former and current Black Cat staff members, customers and the original skipper […]
Akaroa and Lyttelton News, Akaroa New Zealand, Black Cat News
25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR BLACK CAT CRUISES
On October 20th 1985, the Charmaine set out on her first Akaroa Harbour Cruise. At the helm was Captain Ron Bingham and on board were two paying passengers. Total revenue $16. The business was partly inspired by the Hutchens family who started Fiordland Travel (now Real Journeys). Living in Te Anau we had seen what […]
Members of the Black Cat management team decamped to Stewart Island recently for the annual planning session. Pictured is the team on a deserted beach on Ulva Island.
The original Black Cat boat was called Charmaine. She was bought from the Marlborough Sounds in 1985 and held a maximum of 42 people. After three years she was sold and the larger Canterbury Cat brought from Whangarei in 1988. Prior to the Charmaine there were no cruise operators on the harbour, though one or […]