Carino Wildlife Cruises

07/09/2026

She's looking her best and ready for another season.

Behind every great day on the water is weeks of preparation. During winter, Carino undergoes her annual maintenance, servicing, and safety inspections to ensure every voyage is safe, comfortable, and enjoyable.

With everything complete and all safety requirements met, we're excited to get back to doing what we love, sharing the incredible wildlife and natural beauty of the Bay of Islands with you.

Here's to another season of dolphins, whales, seabirds, island adventures, and unforgettable days at sea. 💙

🐬 Discover wildlife. Connect with nature. Protect the ocean.

14/07/2026

Yes it is that time of year, time to make Carino NZ all shiny and new, ready for summer26/27

If you've spent time on the water around the Bay, chances are you've seen Carino NZ. This purpose-built 15m sailing catamaran has been introducing visitors to the Bay's incredible marine wildlife since 1995, combining unforgettable sailing experiences with conservation and education.

As the only sailing yacht in the Bay of Islands permitted by the Department of Conservation to interact with and research marine mammals, Carino has played an important role in helping guests connect with, and contribute to protecting our unique marine environment.

Right now, she's in the Bay of Islands Boatyard for her winter maintenance. With the mast removed and those hulls looking freshly polished, she'll soon be ready to get back out on the water for another season of sailing and wildlife encounters.

If your boat is due for some winter maintenance too, now's the perfect time to book. Take advantage of our Winter Boatyard Special, including 10% off hardstand rates through July & August, plus exclusive offers from our trusted marine service providers.

👉 Learn more: https://www.bayofislandsmarina.co.nz/boatyard-facilities

21/06/2026

🌙 Happy Winter Solstice from the Carino crew! ☀️

Today is the shortest day, and for us, that means one thing: summer is officially on its way, and we could not be more ready for it! 🙌

While Carino NZ is tucked up for her winter rest and a little well-deserved maintenance, the team is busy behind the scenes making sure she's in perfect shape for the season ahead. Think of it as the calm before the beautiful, dolphin-filled summer. 🐬🔧

The Bay of Islands doesn't stop being magical just because we're on pause, right now those dolphins are out there doing their thing, the penguins are keeping the bay company, and the 144 islands are sitting there looking absolutely stunning as always.

But from today, every single day gets a little longer, a little warmer, and a little closer to that first sail back out on the water. And honestly? We cannot wait.

👉 Keep an eye on this page for updates,

Who else is counting down to summer? Drop a ☀️ below — let's all manifest those warm days together! 👇

09/06/2026

🌊 Happy World Ocean Day! 🐬

The ocean isn't just a backdrop, it's home.
Home to the wild bottlenose dolphins we sail alongside every day, the little blue penguins floating in the swell, and the gannets soaring overhead in the Bay of Islands.

At Carino Wildlife Cruises, protecting this extraordinary marine world is at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to be a licensed operator, to view and research wild dolphins and marine mammals, every cruise we run is a conservation cruise.
We collect daily wildlife data on every trip, and a portion of every fare goes directly to the Carino Marine Explorers Trust, helping local tamariki become the next generation of ocean kaitiaki. 🌿

Because we believe that when people truly see and understand our ocean wildlife, they fall in love with it and when you love something, you protect it.

Here's how YOU can be an ocean guardian too:

🚫 Say no to single-use plastics: bottles, bags and straws are among the biggest ocean polluters
📣 Share ocean conservation content to spread the word
🛶 When on the water, keep a respectful distance from marine wildlife

The ocean gives us life, let's give it care in return. 💙

👉 Come sail with us and be part of the story: carinowildlifecruises.co.nz

20/05/2026

End of day two, 30 appointments done,still smiling

20/05/2026

Trenz 2026 3 days of talking about Carino Wildlife Cruises and the fantastic marketing collection of Boutique Travel NZ

08/05/2026

This season was shaped by the people behind it.

Thank you to our crew for showing up every day with respect for the ocean, our guests, and the wildlife we share it with. 🐬

Proud to have you onboard. 💙

18/04/2026

Celebrating our business members: Carino Wildlife Cruises In this series, we are celebrating the many fantastic businesses that have chosen to become members of Project Island Song. By signing up for membership, businesses become an active participant in the restoration of the islands of Ipipiri, he...

18/04/2026

We are beginning a new series to celebrate the many fantastic businesses that have chosen to become members of Project Island Song.

Our first member to feature is Carino Wildlife Cruises, a small, family-owned marine tourism conservation business based in Paihia. We asked them to tell us what the Project means to their business:

"Joining Project Island Song was a natural fit, as their work restoring island ecosystems directly supports the wildlife and habitats we rely on. Becoming a member allows us to actively contribute to meaningful conservation outcomes, not just observe them. It also gives us the opportunity to share these stories with our guests.

Beyond our membership, the Carino team actively supports Project Island Song through hands-on conservation efforts. We regularly carry out beach clean ups on the islands and contribute to informal bird monitoring by recording sightings during our visits.

Being part of Project Island Song strengthens our connection to the environment we operate in and enhances the quality of the experiences we offer. Healthy ecosystems mean richer wildlife encounters for our guests and a more meaningful story to share. Ultimately, it ensures the long-term protection of the natural environment that our business depends on."

Read the full piece on our blog post, linked below.

21/03/2026

Autumn equinox today equal day and night. A time of balance and time to reflect on new growth.