# Bay of Islands Dolphin Rules: The 300 m Sanctuary > In the Bay of Islands sanctuary, people and boats keep 300 m from dolphins. What the July 2026 change means for groups. Source: https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-16-bay-of-islands-marine-mammal-sanctuary-rules-groups/ North Island 16 October 2026 · Explera Trade Desk · 3 min read ![An aerial view of a sandy bay with boats at anchor in the Bay of Islands](https://www.explera.co.nz/assets/photos/aerial-view-bay-islands-new-zealand_665346-88192-1400.webp) **Short answer:** In Te Pēwhairangi, the Bay of Islands Marine Mammal Sanctuary, people must stay out of the water within 300 m of any marine mammal, and boats must keep 300 m away. From 4 July 2026 DOC removed the two 5-knot safe zones but kept these rules. Explera DMC New Zealand plans every Bay of Islands boat day around them. The rules protect the bay's bottlenose dolphins, which DOC says spend most of the daylight hours surrounded by boats or people. ## What are the sanctuary rules? - **Stay out of the water.** No one may be in the water within 300 m of a dolphin, whale or seal in the sanctuary. That includes swimming, snorkelling, diving and paddle boarding off the board. - **Keep boats 300 m away.** Every vessel keeps 300 m from marine mammals. - **Stop if they come closer.** If a marine mammal comes within 300 m, the boat stops and stays stopped until the animal is more than 300 m away. - **The same rule for every species.** Nobody has to work out whether it is a dolphin, a whale or a calf. The distance is always 300 m. ![Three dolphins swimming close to the surface of clear blue water](https://img.magnific.com/free-photo/3-dolphins-swim-by-aclear-blue-sea-one-surfaces-take-breath-air_181624-12903.jpg?w=700) *Three dolphins swimming close to the surface of clear blue water* ## What changed in July 2026? - **The safe zones are gone.** The two marine mammal safe zones, about 7% of the sanctuary, required boats to slow to 5 knots. DOC removed them from 4 July 2026. - **Why.** DOC said removing them lets it focus compliance and enforcement on the rules around the dolphins themselves, wherever they go. - **Who decided.** The change followed public consultation in March 2026 and a recommendation from DOC and Ngā Hapū o Pēwhairangi Marine Mammal Protection Advisory Committee Rōpū. ## What does it mean for a group? - **No swimming with dolphins.** We do not sell a swim-with-dolphins trip in the Bay of Islands. Clients watch from the boat. - **Expect the boat to stop.** If dolphins approach, the skipper stops. We tell clients this is the law, not a breakdown, and allow for it in the timing of the day. - **Brief the group in advance.** Clients who kayak or paddle board on free time must stay 300 m away and stay on their craft. - **Sightings are not guaranteed.** These are wild animals, so we sell the day on the bay itself: the islands, the Hole in the Rock and the history ashore. ![A yellow life ring on the rail of a boat at sea, with green hills behind](https://img.magnific.com/free-photo/close-up-yellow-life-ring-hanging-boat-with-ocean-background_1258-84811.jpg?w=700) *A yellow life ring on the rail of a boat at sea, with green hills behind* ## How Explera DMC New Zealand can help We plan Bay of Islands days and stays for groups. See our [Bay of Islands guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/bay-of-islands/), our [Auckland and Bay of Islands guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-07-auckland-stopover-bay-of-islands-extension/), our [Kaikōura and Akaroa wildlife guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-07-kaikoura-akaroa-marine-wildlife-agent-briefing/) and [cruises and water experiences](https://www.explera.co.nz/services/cruises-and-water-experiences-new-zealand/). ## FAQ **Can clients swim with dolphins in the Bay of Islands?** No. In the sanctuary, people must stay out of the water within 300 m of any marine mammal, so we do not sell swim-with-dolphins trips there. **How close can a boat go to dolphins?** Boats keep 300 m away. If a dolphin comes closer, the boat stops until it is more than 300 m away. **What changed on 4 July 2026?** DOC removed the two 5-knot marine mammal safe zones. The 300 m rules for people and boats did not change. **Do the rules apply to kayaks and paddle boards?** Yes. People on kayaks and paddle boards also keep 300 m away and should stay on their craft if an animal comes close. **Will a group see dolphins?** Not always. They are wild animals, so we plan the day around the bay and its islands, not around a sighting. ## Sources - [Marine mammal sanctuary rules change to improve dolphin protection in Te Pēwhairangi Bay of Islands](https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/marine-mammal-sanctuary-rules-change-to-improve-dolphin-protection-in-te-pewhairangi-bay-of-islands/), Department of Conservation, 3 July 2026 - [Te Pēwhairangi (Bay of Islands) Marine Mammal Sanctuary user guidance](https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/auckland/bay-of-islands-marine-mammal-sanctuary-user-guidance.pdf), Department of Conservation ## Talk to the trade desk Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal [b2b.expleradmc.com](https://b2b.expleradmc.com). Destinations in this briefing [Bay of Islands](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/bay-of-islands/)[Auckland](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/auckland/)[Kaikōura](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/kaikoura/)[Akaroa](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/akaroa/) ## Talk to the trade desk *Your New Zealand DMC partner* From a single FIT to series groups and full MICE programmes, every New Zealand proposal is costed by hand against your brief at net rates. Send your requirements as a new email with a descriptive subject line. [b2b@explera.co.nz](mailto:b2b@explera.co.nz) [WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090](https://wa.me/66936568090) ## More from the trade blog. *Keep reading* [All posts](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/) [Subscribe via RSS](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/rss.xml) - [Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, Nelson: Notes for Groups](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-16-brook-waimarama-sanctuary-nelson-groups/) - [Wairere Falls Track: Closure and Reopening for Groups](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-16-wairere-falls-track-closure-waikato-groups/) - [Banks Peninsula Dolphin Permits: What Groups Should Know](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-15-banks-peninsula-dolphin-permit-moratorium-groups/)