Dolphin

Scientific Name:  Delphinus delphis (common dolphin), Tursiops truncatus (bottlenose dolphin)

Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans.  Up to 20 species of whales and dolphins can be seen in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, some of them all year round.
  

Aerial surveys conducted in September 2001 have put the number of common dolphins in the area at up to 1000 at any time.  More surprisingly the survey has shown that between 50 and 100 Bryde's whales also make their home in the Hauraki Gulf.  Bryde's whales have been sighted north of the Noises and east of Kawau, around Tiritiri waters.  Orca have also been seen off the coast of Tiritiri Matangi.

It is not uncommon for small pods of dolphins to come into Hobbs Bay and stay for the entire day.  This photograph was taken by a Supporter of Tiritiri Matangi during the Queen's Birthday working weekend in June 2001.  The dolphins came into the bay which already had about 50 boats moored offshore and started to dive under the boats and mingle with the swimmers in the water and delighted the onlookers.  We suspected that these were bottlenose dolphins due to their size.  Of the two species commonly found in the Hauraki Gulf, the bottlenose is somewhat larger that the common dolphin.