Black Cat passengers treated to spectacular whale antics

Passengers on Black Cat Cruises harbour cruise on Akaroa Harbour this afternoon were treated with amazing views of a breaching Humpback Whale.

On route north from the Antarctica to warmer tropical waters Humpback whales are easy to identify and are well known for their spectacular breaching and beautiful, complex songs.

Black Cat Cruises Managing Director Paul Bingham said the whales provided some spectacular sights leaping out of the water, which was ‘just amazing for those lucky enough to on the cruise on the harbour today.’

He said the whale was just off Akaroa heads and even came slightly into Akaroa Harbour.

Humpbacks whales have wide-ranging but distinctly seasonal migration patterns, travelling thousands of kilometres between high-latitude summer feeding grounds and low-latitude winter breeding and calving grounds.

They travel mainly along the east-coast and through Cook Strait during winter and return along the west-coast during spring.