13 questions answered, from what the tour is like to which one suits you best.
Yes: 17 of the 22 boat tours covered here depart Paihia, spanning dolphin and Hole in the Rock cruises, fast boats, sailing tours and kayak trips. This guide compares them by price and duration.
Yes, several cruises run to the Hole in the Rock from Paihia and Russell. This guide compares the boats, prices, durations and what a Motukokako visit actually involves.
Not in the Bay of Islands: swimming with dolphins is not permitted there under the sanctuary 300 m rule. Here is why the sanctuary bans it, what the rules are, and which dolphin watching cruises from Paihia and Russell you can book instead.
Dolphin cruise durations in the Bay of Islands run from one hour to 22 hours overnight, with most boat tours from Paihia and Russell lasting about 4.5 hours. Here is the full timing breakdown by tour.
How long the Hole in the Rock cruises take in the Bay of Islands, from a 1 hour 30 minute fast boat to a 5.5 hour eco cruise, with prices and island stop times.
Swimming with dolphins is not permitted in the Bay of Islands. Here is what the sanctuary rules say, the penalties, and which dolphin watching cruises from Paihia and Russell are the legal alternative.
A research-led comparison of the best Bay of Islands tours: dolphin and Hole in the Rock cruises, tall ship sails, kayak trips and Auckland day trips, with prices, durations and review counts.
A full breakdown of the cruise types on offer in the Bay of Islands, from dolphin and Hole in the Rock cruises to tall ship sails, kayak tours and Auckland day trips, with prices and durations.
Practical packing and clothing advice for a dolphin cruise from Paihia or Russell: layers, windproof jacket, island swim kit, sun protection and what changes from boat to boat.
No single month can be named the best time for a Bay of Islands dolphin tour. Here is what the research and the tour schedules actually say, and how to pick a departure.
Motukokako, or Piercy Island, sits at Cape Brett on the outer edge of the Bay of Islands. Here is where it is, how cruises from Paihia and Russell reach it, and what to expect.
Where to see dolphins in the Bay of Islands: which cruises from Paihia and Russell mention dolphins, how the sanctuary rules shape watching, and what a trip realistically costs.
Swimming with dolphins is not permitted in the Bay of Islands. Here is why the swims ended, what the sanctuary rules say, and how dolphin watching cruises from Paihia and Russell work today.
