Whales, Dolphins and Diving Gannets in Auckland!

A cruise around the Hauraki Gulf

Leaving Auckland by boat is a spectacular experience in itself. We capturing some awesome perspectives of the skyline from the water, as well as the volcanic cones at Devonport, and the distinct silhouette of Rangitoto Island – Auckland’s youngest volcano. Our skipper, Andy, is telling us stories and giving us heaps of insights on the surrounding islands of this body of water known as the Hauraki Gulf. He is also telling us about the methods him and his team of marine biologists are actually using to find whales and dolphins as we move across the calm waters. One of the signs is spotting groups of seabirds, especially gannets. We spot one of two gannets to begin with, white seabirds with yellow feathers around their head and bright blue eyes. Then groups start to form together, Andy predicting each time what the step is going to be…

A new appreciation for seabirds

“We’re definitely going to see some dolphins somewhere around here…” Andy says, “Right ahead with a fishing boat and a group of gannets is a pod of dolphins”. As we approach the gannets, the boat slows down so we can sit an observe the most awesome show!

While some gannets sit on the water’s surface, dorsal fins poke out around them as the dolphins are bringing schools of fish up to the surface. Meanwhile, more gannets are circling in the air to all of a sudden straighten out their bodies like a pencil and dive at point-break speed straight into the water. Wow! They look like bombs dropped from the sky – these birds are incredible! The next second, they’ll bob up onto the water’s surface and do a little shake. We know we were here to see marine mammals, but damn, those gannets!

Always remember to look down!

On the lookout for whales

We very often see the dolphins emerging from the water, even jumping out, as we sit here watching, but the Whale and Dolphin Safari team suspect there is more life to be seen towards Waiheke Island! Let’s go!

As we pick up speed, the boat attracts more nearby dolphins who surf the wake behind the boat, as well as right underneath the bow of the boat. They are so close we can see their eyes and even hear them! We can’t take our eyes off them, until Andy comes on the microphone again to say there’s a whale up ahead!

In the distance, we see the water shooting to the sky from the whale’s blowhole. As we get closer, we see it! A Bryde’s Whale! The huge creature slowly rises from the water’s surface showing it’s head, back and dorsal fin. It is heading toward another group of gannets and dolphins about to gatecrash the party.

Awesome sightings of the Bryde’s Whale

Andy tells us to keep an eye on the middle of the gannet group diving to get fish. Suddenly, the huge underside of the whale’s mouth emerges from the water with fish leaping out with it in a desperate attempt to escape. The boat goes silent in disbelief, then general: “Wow”s and “That was awesome”s…

We follow the trail of the bryde’s whale for quite some time, our attention excruciatingly divided between seeing the emergence of the whale’s dorsal fin and the cute-as-hell dolphins swimming and leaping right underneath us. Ahhh, it’s wildlife overload!