Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS
Cruises offering the opportunity to interact with wild dolphins operate all year
round. They have a high success rate and you're generally offered a free trip if dol-
phins aren't sighted. Dolphin swims are subject to weather and sea conditions,
with restrictions if calves are present.
It's totally up to the dolphins as to whether they choose to swim with you or not.
You'll need to be a strong swimmer to keep abreast with them - even when they're
humouring you by cruising along at half-speed.
Only three operators are licensed for dolphin swimming: Explore NZ (
Click here
)
,
Fullers (
Click here
)
and the yacht Carino (
Click here
)
. All pay a portion of the cost
towards marine research, via DOC.
Tours
Where do you start? First by praying for good weather, as torrential rain or choppy seas
could exclude some options. The Paihia i-SITE (
Click here
)
and accommodation operat-
ors can book tours.
Boat
Options include sailing boats, jetboats and large launches. Boats leave from either Paihia
or Russell, calling into the other town as their first stop.
One of the bay's most striking islands is
Piercy Island (Motukokako)
off Cape Brett,
at the bay's eastern edge. This steep-walled rock fortress features a vast natural arch - the
famous
Hole in the Rock
. Provided the conditions are right, most boat tours will pass
right through the heart of the island. En route it's likely you'll encounter bottlenose and
common dolphins, and you may see orcas, other whales and penguins.
The best way to explore the bay is under sail. Either help crew the boat (no experience
required), or just spend the afternoon island-hopping, sunbathing, swimming, snor-
kelling, kayaking and fishing.
Explore NZ
CRUISE, SAILING
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
( 09-402 8234;
www.explorenz.co.nz
;
cnr Marsden & Williams Rds, Paihia)
The four-hour
Swim with the Dolphins Cruise (adult/child $89/45, additional $15 to swim) departs at
8am and 12.30pm. The four-hour Discover the Bay Cruise (adult/child $99/49) departs at
