Dolphin Encounter 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 Dolphin Encounter among whale and dolphin tours in New Zealand. Whale Watch Kaikoura was estimated to have 9K branded searches compared to Dolphin Encounter’s 1.7K, and held a 63.4% Share of Search versus Dolphin Encounter’s 12.2%.
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Which is more popular in search, Dolphin Encounter 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, Dolphin Encounter. 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 Dolphin Encounter and Whale Watch Kaikoura comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Whale Watch Kaikoura was ahead of Dolphin Encounter in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Dolphin Encounter’s estimated Share of Search among whale and dolphin tours in New Zealand moved from 14.9% to 12.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.9K to 1.7K.
- 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, Dolphin Encounter gained estimated Share of Search among whale and dolphin tours in New Zealand, from 9.3% to 12.2%.
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%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Dolphin Encounter’s 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.
Dolphin Encounter
7 branded search terms
- dolphin encounter
- dolphin encounter near me
- dolphin encounter new zealand
- dolphin encounter nz
- dolphin encounter swim with dolphins
- dolphinencounter
- encounter kaikoura
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.