Our boat doesn’t leave until 1 PM. This means we get to relax in Paihia for the first half of the day, indulging in the Movenpick ice cream stand, seagulls, and ocean wind.
Out on the port, the rainy season is kicking in, but this doesn’t stop the ship’s departure. John starts singing the Gilligan’s Island theme as we embark into the choppy waters. The boat is no laughing matter – easily as large as the Catalina Flyer, and other dolphin and whale cruises at home – but the sea is perilous, rocking our mighty vessel like an Indiana Jones adventure.
After a long trek not unlike the wooden roller coasters at Knotts, we come upon a pod of dolphins swimming with people in wetsuits. They’re surfacing frequently (dolphins and people), but there are no leaps of faith out of the water. It’s truly a sight to behold.
Dozens of photographs later, the ship continues towards Hole in the Rock.
A massive island, carved of wave-wrought stone, protrudes from the frothy blue. The ocean has carved a tunnel in the rock as wide as this formidable boat, but the angry currents deter our captain from sailing through the opening. We admire the majesty of the natural structure, cameras in salt-wetted hands.
An entire day consumed by a boat ride sounds lackluster, but make no mistake about the midpoint of our adventure: it was a fantastic experience. And tomorrow is the trip into Whangarei.
