Spotting Dolphins

There are many experiences on our list of ‘Things to do before we die’ and although we’re not sure we’ll ever be able to tick of the skydiving one – read about that here – spotting dolphins was a real ‘once in a lifetime’ experience and one we won’t ever forget.

The Bay of Islands is lucky enough to have the presence of dolphins all year round, and a Dolphin Eco Experience gives you the opportunity, not only to see these fascinating creatures from the deck of a boat, but also a chance to get up close and spend time with them in the water as they swim and play around you. Where else in the world will you have chance to splash and snorkel with a bottlenose?!

The trip cruises around many secluded islands of the bay, giving you a chance to see parts of the coast that you might miss otherwise, and enjoying the scenery and tranquillity of being out on the water.

The boat, named Tutanui which translates as ‘our wee boat’ is purpose built for dolphin watching and benefits from a low viewing deck and an underwater microphone so if you prefer to stay dry, you’ll still feel like you’re getting to know the dolphins close up.

What our travellers enjoyed about Spotting Dolphins…

  • The tour has a maximum of 35 guests on board so it’s a really intimate experience
  • There’s around a 95% success rate of seeing dolphins on your trip, but if, by any chance, you’re unlucky, you’ll receive a voucher to head back out on another day to try again!
  • Taking in the picture perfect views at Otahei Bay