Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise in Tauranga: A Half Day Exploration of Marine Biodiversity
4.7
59 Ratings
Tauranga
Embark on a half-day Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise in Tauranga and explore the diverse marine biodiversity of the Bay of Plenty. Get up close to dolphins, penguins, seals, whales, and more!
Duration:
7 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
-
Bay of Plenty - We cruise by the Port of Tauranga
We cruise past the famous Mountain (Mount Maunganui) where you will get a nice view of the walking track and the summit.
You will see the popular Mount Maunganui walking track where many locals walk daily, we pass by while cruising out of the harbour
We cruise past one of the best beaches in New Zealand with white sand and beautiful Pohutukawa trees above when in season. You’ll want to get your cameras out for this view of Mount Maunganui!
We will cruise next to some views of the popular Mount Maunganui beach with beautiful white sand and waves for swimming and surfing.
We cruise past this island as we leave the harbour entranc
During your cruise you will be able to see these beautiful islands from the boat. We do not stop at these islands but you can view them from our boat while we cruise past.
What's Included
- Half-day cruise aboard an 18m spacious vessel with panoramic views.
- Encounters with wildlife including penguins, seals, and whales.
- Educational commentary on the Bay and marine life.
- Comfortable seating options both indoors and on the sun-deck.
- Experienced and friendly Bay Explorer Crew.
- Capture memorable photos with diverse marine life.
- Explore some of New Zealand’s richest marine diversity.
What's Not Included
- Pick Up & Return Transfer (Optional)
- Lunch Box (Optional)
- Cold beer and chilled regional wines from our licenced bar and non-alcoholic beverages
Additional Information
Your Semi-Day Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise kicks off as we welcome you on board the Bay Explorer at the Tauranga waterfront dock. We’ll journey around the Bay of Plenty coastline, exhibiting an incredible variety of sea wildlife including dolphins that swim alongside our boat. Be amazed by seasonal birds, penguins, seals, whales, sunfish, schools of fish, sharks, orcas, and even turtles!
Our dolphin & wildlife cruise is designed for those seeking an authentic New Zealand nature experience. It tells a story of our fascination with the astounding marine creatures and their environment. Take part by spotting wildlife from the expansive top deck for that unforgettable experience. We have reduced the number of passengers to ensure comfort and a more personalized journey. Our large and comfortable boat is perfect for family groups.
Our Captain and seasoned crew are eager to impart their extensive knowledge of the sea life. Don’t forget to bring your camera as we can get very close to the wildlife, creating a perfect scenario for photography enthusiasts.
- Children MUST Be Accompanied By An Adult
- Minimum Drinking Age 18+ Years
Location
120 The Strand
The Strand
Departure Point: 120 The Strand, Tauranga (Waterfront Jetty across from Starbucks Cafe) Check in is between 8.30am amd 8.45am
Return point: Returns to original departure point .
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(59 Ratings)
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Pak
Apr 1, 2024
Fantastic journey meeting the dolphins family - We saw seals and dolphins during our trips. Dolphins are fantastic! The crew is very experienced. Trying their best to give the best experience for passengers. The trip overrun for about an hour but the time spent is well worth. One little helper also join the crew and play with my kid during the long journey. Fantastic tour. Well recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lugang2024
Feb 5, 2024
Unforgettable Dolphin Discovery - Very memorable experience. The weather was very good and the sea was relatively calm. I was so excited when I saw the happy dolphins. The captain was very nice. We found the dolphins more than an hour after going out to sea. The dolphins followed our boat all the time and interacted with people happily. Highly recommended! If you are seasick, remember to prepare seasickness medicine in advance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolyns519
Jan 26, 2024
Incredible dolphins! - Amazing adventure seeing lots of dolphins. We were amazed with the number of dolphins we saw and all their antics! The crew were helpful, the boat roomy and comfortable. The shore crew were very prompt in answering my queries. All in all, an unforgettable day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C874jwbridgetw
Jan 14, 2024
Excellent dolphin cruise - We had a fabulous day out on the water with Brendan and Tayla. We had such a good dolphin experience. We had a huge group of dolphins swimming happily around us for ages. It was most impressive. We also saw 4 or 5 hammer head sharks close up, not together, separate sightings. We saw quite a few little blue penguins feeding in groups. And we saw a minke whale. It was shy, and we managed to see it a few times, but it wasn't spending a lot of time on the surface. It was an excellent day and I learnt a lot. Brendan and Tayla are fun and knowledgeable. It was a very hot day, but it was cool downstairs, so you could get out of the sun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
John_s
Jan 11, 2024
WOW cruise was amazing... - WOW cruise was amazing Emily the perfect host.All the crew worked hard trying to find marine life .We saw hammer head shark ,a pod of dolphins adults and babies ,penguins.We are hoping to go again before we leave NewZealand
Review provided by Viator
379richard
Jan 4, 2024
Up close and personal with dolphins - Very enjoyable trip. Very pleasant crew made it even more enjoyable particularly the highly-knowledgeable Jordan; very interesting listening to him. We saw loads of dolphins up really close and the crew made every effort to ensure everyone got a chance to see them from the best vantage points. As a bonus, we also got close up to a flock of penguins. Can’t recommend highly enough.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grandmasid
Jan 4, 2024
Loved seeing the dolphins up close - Amazing cruise! We went on a beautiful sunny day in December. On the way out we saw a few flying fish and one bronze whaler shark. The crew were using their binoculars the whole time trying to find wildlife for us. We finally found two pods of dolphin totaling about 70! They swam with our boat for about 45 minutes. They are beautiful up close. There were several babies swimming with their mothers. The crew was great at telling us about the wildlife and the islands. There were three couples in our group and we all loved it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Goplaces58703216226
Jan 3, 2024
Fantastic day out - A fantastic day out for all the family from the youngest under two years old to the oldest in their 80's. Emily and Taylor did all they could to find wildlife for us, and the captain did a fantastic job of easing alongside wildlife to get the best views without disturbing them. We had a fantastic day out with a pod of probably 80 dolphins who loved racing alongside the ship in the wake. We saw hammer head sharks, blue penguins and seals . Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Phw122019
Feb 25, 2024
GREAT DAY OUT - We all had a very good time seeing
the dolphins jumping up and down.
And we were so lucky to see a hammer head shark.
It was really, really amazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Discover30122061708
Feb 10, 2024
Great experience - Crew experienced and could explain in depth the animals we could see during the cruise. Unfortunately we didn’t see any dolphins but we have the chance to see wales, sharks and pingouins! Relaxing experience I’d say
Review provided by Tripadvisor