Lift a flipper and step off your catamaran into the blue-green waters off the coast of Akaroa, home to the smallest and rarest dolphins on earth. Hector’s dolphins are only found in one area of the world and you’ve just arrived to become their newest swimming partner.

Before you put on your swimsuit, board your comfortable coach bus in Christchurch and head south toward the green, grassy hills surrounding Lake Ellesmere and Lake Forsyth. Gaze out the window at rustic farms while you climb past the quaint community of Little River.

Stop off and sample cheeses at a local producer who still makes it the old-fashioned way. When you've had your fill, continue your journey southeast to Akaroa and your date with the Hector’s dolphin .

Board a modern catamaran and get set-up with a provided wetsuit, mask, snorkel, and flippers as your captain sets a course for your afternoon swim. First you see 1— its characteristic, rounded dorsal fin cutting through the water. Then there are 2, then 3. Soon your boat is surrounded and all you have to do is jump in.

Watch them play, spiral, and slice through the water all around you as you snorkel and swim through their world for 2 hours. After your swim, head to the boat and cruise back to Akaroa. Take time to wander through the craft shops and cafes of this old French settlement before meeting up with your tour guide and heading back to Christchurch.