Carino Wildlife Cruises - Island and Wildlife Day Cruise

Was awesome trip. The crew are fantastic. Lots birds from sanctuary we have seen. Unfortunately we didn't have seen any Dolphins May try luck next time.

We had an absolutely fantastic day on the water with Carino! 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 to the brim. 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 is perhaps a wee bit pricier side than the more mass-market boat tours (not sure), but IMO excellent value for what we paid - especially since part of it goes to ecology excursions for children.

A thoroughly, enjoyable and informative sail around parts of the Bay of Islands. Vanessa was full of useful information and wordly experience, we learnt a lot ! With her father Bruce ably helming the boat. Perfect weather for the day, and although dolphins were not amenable this time, we loved the birdlife and stunning views including the blue penguins. A lovely swim, snorkel and walk at a beach included, and Barbq lunch. It absolutely capped our wonderful holiday in NZ. Really good to see the emphasis on species protection and conservation, this trip helps benefit that cause. Keep up the good work, its needed in this day and age !

Fabulous friendly staff! Very knowledgeable about local fauna and history. Great barbie lunch with delicious brownies. A variety of drinks are available. The island walk was magnificent offering fantastic views of the bay. Very enjoyable!

This was a fantastic day on the water in the Bay of Islands. The crew shared their local knowledge about the islands and wildlife. We all loved the island stopover, which included a short hike, swimming, and snorkeling, followed by a delicious bbq lunch on the boat. In the afternoon, we were lucky enough to see little blue penguins and a pod of bottlenose dolphins. Vanessa and Meghan were wonderful crew members and taught us about the dolphins. It was also clear that they put the dolphins’ welfare first, so we were sure not to overstay our welcome with the pod. Finally, this cruise is on a smaller yacht (our group was just 10 people) that lets you get closer to the water & dolphins than some of the bigger tourist boats. You can’t go wrong with this cruise!

Great relaxing way to see the Bay of Islands and the wildlife that lives in it. We like smaller tours with no more than a dozen people and the Carino was perfect. Lots of room for everyone to move around. The boat is clean, comfortable and spacious.The Captain is friendly, knowledgeable and capable. Lunch was simple but delicious. The small island stop was brief, but provided spectacular views of the Bay of Islands.It would be hard to ask for anything more but we saw dolphins up close as well as a few penguins. If you are looking for an easy, comfortable and relaxing day in the Bay of Islands, we highly recommend this trip.