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Dolphin and Wildlife Cruise - Half Day

4.5
134
Deals from $86.50 Save $88.50 Check dates nowsystem_update_alt
Your Half Day Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise begins as you’re welcomed aboard the Bay Explorer at the Tauranga waterfront!

Your Half Day Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise begins as you’re welcomed aboard the Bay Explorer at the Tauranga waterfront!

Highlights

  • A half day cruise on our spacious boat with 360° outdoor views from the largest open-air wildlife watching sun deck
  • Explore Tauranga’s amazing marine wildlife – penguins, seals, dolphins, whales, sunfish, school fish, seabirds, sharks and orca
  • Cold beer and chilled regional wine from our full licensed bar (Eftpos available)
  • Onboard commentary and references with facts on the Bay and local marine wildlife

We spend the morning exploring the pristine Bay of Plenty harbour and beyond, searching for marine wildlife which may include seabirds, penguins, seals, whales, sunfish, school fish, sharks, orca, and dolphins swimming along with our vessel. Our awesome Captain and crew will be pointing out all that they see so you won’t miss a thing!

Don’t forget your camera as we are able to get up close to wildlife, making it a photographer’s dream.

Your experienced Captain and crew will provide a fascinating commentary on the history, geography and culture of the area. They have knowledge of marine wildlife and personally share with you everything they observe. Books and references are on board to enhance your experience.

You will be back in Tauranga with enough time to explore our beautiful region! Don’t miss this premier Bay of Plenty half day dolphin and wildlife adventure!

Adult $175.00
Child $65.00 (6 -12 years)
Infant $25.00 (5 years and under)
Family $480.00 (2x Adults + 2x Children )

Duration

  • Allow approximately 6 hours for the whole experience

Location

  • Departure: Corner of Wharf Street & The Strand, Tauranga 3110

Child Friendly

  • This experience welcomes families with children.

Notes

  • CHECK-IN AND DEPARTURE: You must check-in at 8:30am (allow time in traffic and for parking). Departure is from The Strand, Tauranga daily at 9:00am returning between 1.00pm and 2.00pm.

    Parking available down The Strand water front down Dive Crescent We operate seven days a week weather permitting. Should weather conditions prohibit open ocean cruising, then we will postpone to another date, or offer a refund.


  • Child price applicable for ages 6-12 years. Infant is 5 years and under.

    Guests must please bring their own lunch or snacks. There is a fully licensed bar so you can chill out and soak up the atmosphere over a chilled regional wine or a refreshing beer. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available.

    This is a wildlife cruise, dolphin sightings are not guaranteed and no refunds will be given if there are no dolphin sightings.



Available Bookings from 28 Mar to 10 Apr 2025

Change Dates

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

Fri 28 Mar
Sat 29 Mar
Sun 30 Mar
Mon 31 Mar
Tue 1 Apr
Wed 2 Apr
Thu 3 Apr
Fri 4 Apr
Sat 5 Apr
Sun 6 Apr
Mon 7 Apr
Tue 8 Apr
Wed 9 Apr
Thu 10 Apr

  • Adult$105.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$105.00
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$86.50 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$105.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$122.00
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$122.00
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$86.50 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$105.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$105.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$86.50 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$105.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$122.00
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$122.00
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

  • Adult$86.50 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$65.00
  • Infant$25.00
  • Family $384.00

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

4.5

134 reviews

Showing all 134 authenticated Bookme reviews

Hyoju from South Korea wrote on 25 October 2020

돌고래를 보게 그들은 최선을 다했다.

정말 멋진 경험이였어요. 돌고래, 물개, 펭귄이 자유롭게 헤엄치는 모습을 볼수 있어서 너무 황홀했어요. 그들은 그것들을 찾기에 최선을 다했고 일정시간보다 2시간 늦게 도착했지만 굉장한 경험을 할수 있게 해준 그들에게 감사함을 표합니다. It was a wonderful experience. It was so fascinating to see dolphins, seals, and penguins swimming freely. They did their best to find them and arrived two hours later than a certain time, but thank them for allowing them a great experience.

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From Dolphin and Wildlife Cruise - Half Day

Im guessing that everything you have said is GREAT from the 5 stars, Im sorry I can't comment past that as I do not understand your written language. All the best from the Bay Explorer crew. :)

dalem1 from New Zealand wrote on 16 January 2023

Desperately seeking dolphins

After a rope start feeling seasick ans not seeing anything for hours, we had the wonderful experience of seeing a huge pod of dolphins who were eager to please. Such an amazing experience. Massive thanks to Brandon and Josh who perservered and made our dream come true.

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Lucy from United Kingdom wrote on 27 January 2021

A beautiful day at sea

What an amazing way to spend a day in the bay of plenty. Cruising the sea looking for nature. Brendon and the team did an excellent job. We saw and travelled with a huge pod of dolphins (about 80). No luck with spotting any penguins or orca but nothing is guaranteed in the wilderness. Well worth it.

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richardw17 from New Zealand wrote on 16 February 2023

Shit experience

Absolute crap worst experience on a boat probably put my children off going on a boat for life, the skipper should never have gone out and we still haven't seen any wildlife really disappointed. Unfortunately I had to give 1 star to carry on

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From Dolphin and Wildlife Cruise - Half Day

Thanks but guess we need to clarify.. You did not listen to the crew, your experience ( as your children were seasick) is not a reflection of the skippers or the crew of the experience we offer. Firstly you are asked to take precautions such as motion sickness tablets or .wrist bands if you are susceptible to motion sickness. You did not prepare. We even offer sea sickness tablets on board for those that did not prepare or are unsure of their personal susceptibility ! You were briefed at check-in and at the crew briefing that the swell was only minimum ( .5 m yes that’s 500mm) but windy and would be bumpy) you then sat downstairs with the kids after being briefed to get air upstairs and watch the horizon if feeling unwell. Look we understand how having sea sick kids can be a tough time for a mum but we also ask for parents to take the time to prepare or skip to another day when cautioned of wind or wave action. It was safe and we never cruise without considering safety. Unfortunately different personal ability to deal with the foreign environment of the open ocean can lead to sea sickness but that is not something the crew can manage .. it’s an open ocean environment and the sea is very different and moving all the time.. We offered to take your family again but understand you are adamant that we are to blame as opposed to seeing our business as an opportunity to experience the ocean realm again and that again is your choice. We hope you get back out sometime some place and be prepared.. some people get motion seasickness on the calmest of days.. it’s nothing to do with age, race, body type etc.. All the best Bay Explorer crew

Gagan Kaur from New Zealand wrote on 27 February 2023

Great

Amazing crew. Had a lovely trip

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