Akaroa Dolphins vs Whale Watch Kaikoura:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, Whale Watch Kaikoura had more branded searches than Akaroa Dolphins among whale and dolphin tours in New Zealand. Whale Watch Kaikoura was estimated to have 9K branded searches compared to Akaroa Dolphins’ 1.9K, and held a 63.4% Share of Search versus Akaroa Dolphins’ 13.7%.
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Which is more popular in search, Akaroa Dolphins or Whale Watch Kaikoura?
Compare the whale watching and dolphin tour operators visitors book in New Zealand. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Whale Watch Kaikoura, Akaroa Dolphins. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Whale Watch Kaikoura | Akaroa Dolphins | Dolphin Encounter | Black Cat Cruises | Wings Over Whales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 62% | 14% | 14.9% | 7.3% | 1.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 62.2% | 11.7% | 18.3% | 6.3% | 1.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 56.5% | 15.5% | 19.9% | 6.7% | 1.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 57.4% | 13.2% | 17% | 10.7% | 1.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 56.7% | 12.8% | 20.1% | 8.4% | 2% |
| Mar 2026 | 60% | 11.3% | 21.6% | 4.8% | 2.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 60.4% | 13.9% | 18.1% | 6.2% | 1.5% |
| May 2026 | 63% | 14.4% | 15.3% | 5.3% | 1.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 67.3% | 14.7% | 10.9% | 5.6% | 1.6% |
| Jul 2026 | 61.7% | 20% | 9.3% | 7.4% | 1.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 63.4% | 13.7% | 12.2% | 9.3% | 1.5% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Akaroa Dolphins and Whale Watch Kaikoura comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Whale Watch Kaikoura was ahead of Akaroa Dolphins in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Akaroa Dolphins’ estimated Share of Search among whale and dolphin tours in New Zealand moved from 14% to 13.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.6K to 1.9K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Whale Watch Kaikoura’s estimated Share of Search among whale and dolphin tours in New Zealand moved from 62% to 63.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 16.2K to 9K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand whale and dolphin tours in August 2026?
2 changes

In August 2026, Whale Watch Kaikoura gained estimated Share of Search among whale and dolphin tours in New Zealand, from 61.7% to 63.4%.

In August 2026, Akaroa Dolphins lost estimated Share of Search among whale and dolphin tours in New Zealand, from 20% to 13.7%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Akaroa Dolphins’ and Whale Watch Kaikoura’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Akaroa Dolphins
5 branded search terms
- akaroa dolphins
- akaroa dolphins harbour nature cruise
- akaroa dolphins new zealand
- akaroadolphins
- akaroadolphins co nz
Whale Watch Kaikoura
6 branded search terms
- whale watch
- whale watch kaikoura
- whale watch kaikoura ltd
- whale watch kaikoura whaleway station road kaikoura
- whalewatch co nz
- whalewatchkaikoura

Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.