27 degrees, sunny
Up at 6.30 am to catch our 8.00 am Dolphin cruise. Lovely sunny morning but a cool stiff breeze on the ocean. We had paid extra to swim with the Dolphins if the conditions were right, but Clare was a little unsure and not just because the water temperature at that time of the morning was only 19 degrees.
After a fruitless 2 hours tearing about the Bay of Islands there was no sign of dolphins but the coastal scenery was lovely with many islands and sheltered beaches. The Captain eventually said that a pod of Orcas had been spotted in the bay which explains why the dolphins had made themselves scarce. Right, we said, thinking this was his standard cock & bull story when dolphins can’t be found. But about 1/2 later we found the pod of Orcas – only 4 of them though (bit of a pattern developing here?) – hunting sting ray in the shallows. We spent about 40 minutes following them back and forth but didn’t really get particularly close up view of them. So the decision regarding whether to swim or not was not required – very disappointed not to see Dolphins, Again, Clare was expecting dozens of them cavorting in the bow wave and flipper waving for the cameras.
Back on land at 12.30 so after lunch spent a couple of hours on the beach and a swim – water temperature marginally higher by now.