We had an absolutely fantastic day on the water with Carino Wildlife Cruises! The catamaran was clean, spacious and offered just as many options for sitting in the shade as in the sun, and it was very pleasant to be on a boat that was not packed full. Vanessa, the captain, was equally fantastic: extremely capable, very enthusiastic, and bursting with information about the local history and nature (we saw many types of birds, penguins and dolphins)! This is definitely a trip run by knowledgeable conservationists! There was a great stop at an idyllic bay for hiking and/or swimming (marvellous) followed by a simple, but yummy BBQ lunch. Sails were hoisted on the way back for a completely authentic-feeling adventure. We really DID see almost all of the Bay of Islands (except for Hole in the Rock at the very far end) and enjoyed ourselves enormously. It may be a wee bit pricier than the more mass-market boat tours (am not really sure), but IMO excellent value for what we paid, especially considering part of it goes to ecology education excursions for children.
Anne LovesReading
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December 23, 2025
Had a fantastic day! There was plenty if space on the ship to sit or lay down in the sun. We cruised around the beautiful bay, stopped in a sheltered bay for a shorts hike, snorkeling and a yummy barbecue. And we got to see dolphins!
Tash C
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December 12, 2025
Fantastic trip. Great historical commentary from Vanessa. Felt safe and supported in a nice clean space. Didn’t have the lunch as we took our own but it looked and smelt delicious. Great bunch of other guests of different nationalities. Really superb trip, thanks Vanessa and Wayne.
Namoi Moro
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January 31, 2026
Fantastic experience from beginning to end . The views from the boat are lovely , had a great time exploring and swimming at one of the islands on our break , a simple but tasty lunch , and we were lucky enough to have dolphins swim right up to the boat 🐬 and the crew members ( Vanessa and Axel ) were very friendly and knowledgeable . Thank you for a great day !
Alexander
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March 21, 2023
Great cruise. Vicky and Vanessa were
super nice. They shared valuable insights about the islands and the wildlife. Both had a passion for the local wildlife and deep knowledge about this area. We were super lucky and saw many dolphins even including little ones. Beach stop with snorkeling and dinner was well timed. Overall very good package and clearly worth a recommendation.
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Paihia Wharf, Marsden Road, Paihia 0200, New Zealand
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We had an absolutely fantastic day on the water with Carino Wildlife Cruises! The catamaran was clean, spacious and offered just as many options for sitting in the shade as in the sun, and it was very pleasant to be on a boat that was not packed full. Vanessa, the captain, was equally fantastic: extremely capable, very enthusiastic, and bursting with information about the local history and nature (we saw many types of birds, penguins and dolphins)! This is definitely a trip run by knowledgeable conservationists! There was a great stop at an idyllic bay for hiking and/or swimming (marvellous) followed by a simple, but yummy BBQ lunch. Sails were hoisted on the way back for a completely authentic-feeling adventure. We really DID see almost all of the Bay of Islands (except for Hole in the Rock at the very far end) and enjoyed ourselves enormously. It may be a wee bit pricier than the more mass-market boat tours (am not really sure), but IMO excellent value for what we paid, especially considering part of it goes to ecology education excursions for children.
Had a fantastic day! There was plenty if space on the ship to sit or lay down in the sun. We cruised around the beautiful bay, stopped in a sheltered bay for a shorts hike, snorkeling and a yummy barbecue. And we got to see dolphins!
Fantastic trip. Great historical commentary from Vanessa. Felt safe and supported in a nice clean space. Didn’t have the lunch as we took our own but it looked and smelt delicious. Great bunch of other guests of different nationalities. Really superb trip, thanks Vanessa and Wayne.
Fantastic experience from beginning to end . The views from the boat are lovely , had a great time exploring and swimming at one of the islands on our break , a simple but tasty lunch , and we were lucky enough to have dolphins swim right up to the boat 🐬 and the crew members ( Vanessa and Axel ) were very friendly and knowledgeable . Thank you for a great day !
Great cruise. Vicky and Vanessa were super nice. They shared valuable insights about the islands and the wildlife. Both had a passion for the local wildlife and deep knowledge about this area. We were super lucky and saw many dolphins even including little ones. Beach stop with snorkeling and dinner was well timed. Overall very good package and clearly worth a recommendation.