1 / 5Bay Explorer - Dolphin and Wildlife Cruises
📍 Tauranga, Bay of Plenty
Half-day dolphin and wildlife cruises from Tauranga led by marine biologist Emily Dee. Purpose-built vessel with 360-degree decks, covered seating, and a licensed bar. Encounters include dolphins, sharks, sunfish, and seasonal humpback whales.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
The crew's effort to find and stay with wildlife is exceptional - Lauren's group encountered four dolphin pods, a manta ray, and a hammerhead shark in a single trip. The 100-dolphin pod sighting with babies surfacing alongside the boat is the kind of moment families talk about for years.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →303 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Denise E
8 months ago
“We had the best time on the 5 day adventure. The team on board exceeded our expectations and the care and thought to ensure we were given the best experience was exceptional. There is no guarantee that you will get to see the wonder of the sea and the team did everything they could to ensure we had the best chances. We did see 2 sharks, gannets dive bombing and a pod of 7 dolphins initially and then we encountered a pod of 60+ on the way back and we then followed them for a good period of time which was amazing to see with the babies, teens and adult dolphins. We were given the best treatment. the boat was comfortable with room and refreshments. We booked online and there was no wait. Remember plenty of sun screen as the breeze can be a bit misleading on how warm the sun can be. Thank you so much and we would def book up again.”
Eunyoung Kong
7 months ago
“The captain and all the staff were incredibly kind and welcoming. The location was very convenient, and everything was checked thoroughly and handled professionally. They made sure we had plenty of time to see the dolphins, and we even spotted sharks! It was such an unforgettable experience. I don’t usually drink wine, but I was curious and decided to try it - and it was absolutely delicious. I even asked which wine it was so I could buy some later! Definitely don’t skip the wine. 🍷✨”
Nini Hewitt
10 months ago
“We had such a wonderful day out with the Bay Explorer. We were so lucky and came across a pod of about 100 dolphins who were swimming around our boat for over an hour! It was such an incredible experience. The crew were amazing, and were great at spotting the wildlife. Towards the end of the trip we spotted a humpback which was a complete surprise and utterly incredible! Would highly recommend this trip!”
📊 Commonly mentioned in Google reviews
Based on Google review tagsDolphin watching
102 reviews
Dolphins
58 reviews
Wildlife viewing
30 reviews
Seals
29 reviews
Hammerhead shark
21 reviews
Overview
Take your family out on the water and experience the wild marine life of the Bay of Plenty aboard Bay Explorer’s Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise.
Our half day cruise takes you out into the bay in search of wild dolphins and other marine life, with our knowledgeable crew keeping watch for whatever the day brings. Dolphins are often the highlight, with close up encounters. But you never know what you might encounter, from sunfish and seabirds to seals, turtles, sharks, rays and, on lucky days, orca.
Bay Explorer is a large, stable vessel with plenty of space for families, including a full upper deck for 360° views and covered seating below. Our crew are experienced wildlife spotters and love sharing their knowledge of the local marine environment along the way.
A great family day out on the Bay of Plenty, with wildlife, fresh air and plenty of adventure.
