During the drive we were also able to organise accommodation, book activities and organiose our pick up for the return to Auckland. Having looked at the list of activities I decided to do the dolphin swim as this also gave you a tour of the bay at the same time.
We arrived in Paihia, a small town on the edge of the bay, around midday. Jamie organised my bags to be taken to the hostel as I was straight on a boat to go and find dolphins.
We travelled around the bay for 1½ hours looking for bottlenose dolphins. The scenery was amazing and occasionally an island will come up for sale. I know what I want for my xmas!
The sun was shining and the water was amazingly clear and the brightest turquoise colour. We finally found a pod of about 10 bottlenose dolphins. I was able to go out and hang over the front of the boat to get a really close look. They were amazingly sociable, coming right up to us, and so playful, jumping 3 or 4 feet out the water. Judging by what 2 of them are up to, we may have some baby dolphins in about 11 months time.
Then the crew got us all sorted into wetsuits and snorkel gear. We were ready to hit the water.
Soon we were close enough to slip in the water and g o over to the pod. We had been encouraged to be as playful as possible. Diving down, spinnig and even singing would all encourage the dolphins curiosity. I swam to within a metre of the main group and dove down to meet them. It was only then I realised I was right in the middle of the group. There was a wild dolphin ab out 6 inches from my face. I was awe struck and waited a few seconds just staring at these amazing animals. I swam down further and rolled and spun around. I decided to spare them my singing talents. Possible the most surreal experience is swimming in the most gorgeously warm and clear water with dolphins above and below you. But bloody hell are they fast. After about 10 mins they began to swim off and there was no chance we were catching them. We jumped back on the boat and after 2 more dips we had to admit defeat. At least we had a while to play with them. We headed to the largest island in the bay to grab a shower and a hot chocolate before the trip back to Paihia.
This was definitely an experience I’ll never forget. Hopefully one of many I’ll have in the next 10 weeks.
We got back to Paihia and I headed upto the Pipi patch hostel. I got checked in and reunited with my stuff, including my blankie. I then had a dip in the hostel’s hot tub and got chatting to the other folk staying there. A mixture of those just starting their travels in NZ and those nearly finished and also lots of those who had been elsewhere in the world.
I had a quick shower and headed for the bar for the nightly BBQ. Steak, sausage baked potatoes and salad, there was even a free pint included, all for $12.
That left me with time to spare before sitting down to watch the All Blacks vs. Canada. Despite initial predictions that the game would end with a cricket score, the All Blacks played apaullingly and the Canadian’s played very well and very physically. The final score was 64-13, which is better than the french fared the week before.
In the midst of this I was refereeing a mammouth game of Monopoly a few of the other were playing. It very nearly ended in tears.
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