About The Site
Bay Of Islands Dolphin Cruises is a comparison site covering 22 boat tours in the Bay of Islands, from dolphin and Hole in the Rock cruises to sailing, kayaking and Auckland day trips. It runs none of the tours and takes no bookings.
What The Site Is
It is a single-purpose reference: one place to compare tour facts before choosing a cruise. There is no author persona, no diary of voyages and no personal endorsement of any operator. The voice is plain research and reporting.
What It Covers
- Dolphin and Hole in the Rock cruises: 7 tours.
- Fast boat cruises: 2 tours.
- Tall ship, yacht and catamaran sailing: 7 tours.
- Cream trip and full-day cruises: 2 tours.
- Sea kayak tours: 2 tours.
- Auckland day trips with a bay cruise: 2 tours.
How Data Is Gathered
Prices, ratings, review counts, durations, group maximums, minimum ages, inclusions and cancellation terms are read from each tour's booking page. Sanctuary rules, including the ban on entering the water within 300 m of dolphins, whales or seals, come from the Department of Conservation. Nothing is invented to fill a gap: if a booking page does not state a fact, the site stays silent on it.
How It Earns Money
When a visitor books through a link, the site earns an affiliate commission from the platform, at no extra cost to the visitor. This is the site's only income from tours. Hotel links go to hotel booking partners on the same basis.
How To Cite It
Cite the site as Bay Of Islands Dolphin Cruises, bayofislandsdolphincruises.com. For a fact about a specific tour, name the tour and its operator alongside the citation. If something here looks wrong, email info@bayofislandsdolphincruises.com and it will be checked against the booking page.
Key Facts
- All 22 Bay of Islands dolphin cruises compared here.
- Per-person prices run from $63.07 to $263.16.
- Bookings are made on the operator's booking page; this site links out through affiliate links and takes no payment.
Tours Compared
| Tour | Format | Length | Departs | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise with 2 Island Stops | Shared | 4 hours 30 minutes | Paihia | $101 per person | 4.8 from 1,217 reviews |
| Dolphins and Island Cruise | Shared | 4 hours 30 minutes | Paihia | $90 per person | 4.6 from 902 reviews |
| 22-Hour Overnight Cruise On Board | Shared | 22 hours | Paihia | $228.19 per person | 4.9 from 462 reviews |
| Tall Ship Sailing, BBQ Lunch Included | Shared | 5 hours 30 minutes | Russell | $117.53 per person | 4.9 from 387 reviews |
| 6-Hour Sail to Wildlife Sanctuary | Shared | 6 hours | Paihia | $140.47 per person | 5.0 from 322 reviews |
| Dolphin Cruise, Island Lunch Included | Shared | 4 hours 30 minutes | Paihia | $121 per person | 4.7 from 302 reviews |
| Island Getaway 4.5-Hour Day Cruise | Shared | 4 hours 30 minutes | Paihia | $101 per person | 4.8 from 300 reviews |
| Vigilant Yacht Full-Day Sail | Shared | 5 hours 30 minutes | Russell | $117.53 per person | 4.9 from 232 reviews |
| 3-Hour Hole in the Rock Cruise | Shared | 3 hours | Paihia | $88.87 per person | 4.9 from 197 reviews |
| Phantom Sail, 5 Hours 30 Minutes | Shared | 5 hours 30 minutes | Russell | $111.80 per person | 4.9 from 183 reviews |
| Day Sail, Lunch and Island Stop | Shared | 6 hours | Paihia | $121 per person | 5.0 from 140 reviews |
| 8.5-Hour Day in the Bay Cruise | Shared | 8 hours 30 minutes | Paihia | $127 per person | 4.8 from 123 reviews |
| Gungha II Day Sail, Island Stop | Shared | 6 hours | Paihia | $110 per person | 5.0 from 121 reviews |
| Sundowner Tall Ship Sail, 1h50 | Shared | 1 hour 50 minutes | Russell | $63.07 per person | 4.9 from 111 reviews |
| Auckland Day Trip, 12-Hour Return | Shared | 12 hours | Auckland | $263.16 per person | 4.9 from 70 reviews |
| Carino 6-Hour Wildlife Cruise, Lunch | Shared | 6 hours | Paihia | $131.87 per person | 4.9 from 52 reviews |
| Fast Boat, Hole in the Rock | Shared | 1 hour 30 minutes | Paihia | $97.47 per person | 4.7 from 40 reviews |
| Small Group Auckland Trip, 13 Hours | Shared | 13 hours | Auckland | $255.42 per person | 4.9 from 26 reviews |
| Afternoon Island Kayak, Half Day | Shared | Half day, 2.5 to 3 hours of paddling | Paihia | $132 per person | 6 reviews |
| Full-Day Sea Cave Kayak, Lunch | Shared | 10 hours | Paihia | $166 per person | 1 review |
| Eco Cruise, Marine Wildlife Focus | Shared | 5 hours 30 minutes | Paihia | $97.47 per person | No reviews on this one yet |
| Ocean Blast, Optional Island Stop | Shared | 1 hour | Paihia | $68.23 per person | No reviews on this one yet |
The Lineup
- Dolphin And Hole In The Rock Cruises
- Fast Boat Cruises
- Tall Ship, Yacht And Catamaran Sailing
- Cream Trip And Full-Day Cruises
- Sea Kayak Tours
- Auckland Day Trips With A Bay Cruise