The Bay of Islands is a spectacular place, with beautiful scenery, iconic landmarks and plenty of wildlife spotting on the Dolphin Eco Cruise with Explore Group. When you join this experience from Paihia or Russell, you will be treated to 5.5 hours of sightseeing in the Bay of Islands and seeing an abundance of wildlife in their natural environment. Keep an eye out for dolphins, whales, seals, birdlife and much more on the Dolphin Eco Cruise.
During your half day cruise, you will discover the natural beauty of the Bay of Islands as you cruise onboard a purpose-built Explore Group vessel. The catamaran has plenty of space on outdoor viewing platforms so that you can enjoy the views throughout your Bay of Islands journey and look out for marine mammals. There is both indoor and outdoor seating with the option to purchase drinks and snacks onboard.
Throughout the Dolphin Eco Cruise experience, you will have the chance to learn about the Project Island Song wildlife sanctuary and its commitment to restoring natural ecosystems in the Bay of Islands. The Explore Group guides are passionate about the area and love to share their knowledge during the cruise. There is even a 1.5 hour island stopover on the pest free Urupukapuka Island, where you can spot native birds that have been reintroduced as part of the Project Island Song programme.
Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island is one of the most popular beaches in the Bay of Islands, perfect for relaxing, swimming or snorkelling (conditions permitting). Explore this idyllic beach and its cafe on your 1.5 hour island stopover, before returning to Paihia or Russell on the Dolphin Eco Cruise.
Marine Mammal Viewing Guarantee The Dolphin Eco Cruise with Explore Group is proud to support the Bay of Islands Marine Mammal Sanctuary when it comes to interactions with marine mammals. The friendly experienced crew have a high success rate for locating dolphins, whales and more marine mammals. There is even a ‘Marine Mammal Viewing Guarantee’, which means that if the crew don’t spot any marine mammals on the day, you receive a ‘go again for free’ voucher, so you can take the tour again.