Bay of Islands Sailing, Wildlife & Island Day Cruise

Discover Wildlife. Connect with Nature. Protect the Ocean.

Step aboard Carino NZ for a relaxed small-group Bay of Islands sailing, dolphin and wildlife cruise from Paihia. Our crew actively look for wild dolphins, little blue penguins, seabirds and other marine life as we sail around the islands.

You can relax on deck or help with the sails, then spend time ashore on an island with the option to walk, swim, snorkel or explore. Along the way, our crew share wildlife notes, stories and local knowledge from years on the Bay, no two days are quite the same. The weather, sea and wildlife help shape each cruise,

Carino Wildlife Cruises operates under a Department of Conservation marine mammal permit, so any dolphin or marine mammal encounters are careful, respectful and guided by the animals themselves. Dolphins are never guaranteed, but our crew are always watching the water and the sky.

What’s Included in Your Island & Wildlife Day Cruise

Relaxed Sailing in the Bay of Islands

Spend the day sailing through the Bay of Islands, watching for wildlife, relaxing on deck and enjoying the scenery of island beaches, clear water and bush-covered islands. Lend a hand with the sails if you like, while our crew share local knowledge, stories and their love of the Bay, its wildlife and marine environment.

Explore the Day Cruise

Dolphins & Wildlife

Throughout the cruise, our crew actively look for wild dolphins, marine mammals, little blue penguins, seabirds and other marine life under our marine mammal permit. We help guests recognise different species, spot signs of feeding, travelling or resting behaviour, and record wildlife observations from the Bay. Wildlife is wild, so sightings are never guaranteed..

Explore Our Wildlife Guide

Island Stop & Snorkelling

Your cruise includes time ashore on an island, with the option to walk to a scenic viewpoint, swim, snorkel or simply enjoy the anchorage. Listen for birdsong, look for island and shore birds, or explore the beach while the day slows down around you. The island stop is chosen each day to suit the conditions.

See Snorkelling on the Cruise

Recognised Responsible Tourism

Carino Wildlife Cruises is a tourism business with marine conservation at its heart. Our work in the Bay of Islands is guided by responsible wildlife watching, kaitiakitanga, education, research support and care for the marine environment.

We are proud to hold and support recognised tourism and conservation commitments, including our Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award, Department of Conservation marine mammal permit, Tourism Industry Aotearoa sustainable tourism commitment, the Tiaki Promise, World Cetacean Alliance membership, and our own Carino Marine Explorer Charitable Trust.

These are not just logos on a page. They reflect how we operate each day: watching wildlife carefully, supporting marine mammal protection, sharing what we learn with guests, and helping local tamariki connect with the ocean.

Read Our Responsible Tourism Guide

Your Bay of Islands Day Cruise

Island and Wildlife Day Cruise

From Paihia, join a relaxed small-group Bay of Islands sailing, dolphin and wildlife cruise aboard Carino NZ.

Spend around six hours on the water as our crew actively look for wild dolphins, little blue penguins, seabirds and other marine life. You can relax on deck, help with the sails, spend time ashore on an island, and hear wildlife notes, conservation insights, island stories and Bay of Islands history from crew who know these waters well.

Your Day at a Glance

Spend around six hours on the Bay: depart Paihia Wharf at 9am and return at approximately 3pm.

Sail through the Bay of Islands: relax on deck or join in and help with the sails; no sailing experience is needed.

Watch for dolphins and wildlife: keep an eye on the water and sky while our crew actively look for wild dolphins, little blue penguins, seabirds and other marine life. Wildlife is wild, so sightings are never guaranteed.

Notice what wildlife is doing: our crew help guests recognise different species and understand signs of feeding, travelling, resting or social behaviour.

Step ashore on an island: spend time exploring a sheltered island stop chosen to suit the conditions on the day.

Walk, swim or snorkel: choose how you would like to enjoy your time ashore; snorkelling equipment is provided.

Learn as you go: hear stories and observations about the wildlife, islands, marine environment, conservation and history of the Bay from crew who know these waters well.

Explore the Island & Wildlife Day Cruise