Ocean Wave Tours product reviews

As we walked down onto the Whitianga Marina jetty, we saw the small 'cave boat' waiting for us. It didn't look like much, but as we approached, it was clear that it seated 8 passengers quite well, plus 2 skippers to boot! This would still leave some stowage space up in the bow, or room for a couple of kids to crouch down and enjoy the wind. After a quick explanation from the skipper as to what was about to happen, and the fitting of safety vests, we pulled away from the dock and headed out to start our 2 hour trip of exploration and fun.

We were also told that if there were any photo opportunities we wanted to take advantage of, we had only to ask and they would happily stop, move, or otherwise position the boat to our liking. This really was a great indication of the friendly, personal service offered by the crew. They were always ready and willing to give us a run-down of the history of any particular area, explanations of how certain rock formations came about, how various caves formed, the wildlife around the area, both above and below the waterline, and basically just proved themselves to be experts on the local area.

We drove into caves small enough for the boat to just nudge its nose in, and ones so big we could easily have fit a bus in there with room to spare, and each time the skipper was keen to tell us all about it, and position the boat for the best photos. We ran across a lazy seal snoozing the afternoon away soaking up the heat from the rocks. A few hoarse barks from me woke her up and allowed the shutterbugs on the boat to snaps some nice shots. At Cathedral Cove some of us disembarked to go for a walk through the stone arch joining two bays, which was a wonderful experience. Photos just don't do it any justice, it's HUGE! It looked so small from the water, but when you are standing there, with a small cliff hung over your head, standing in the soft golden sand... it's just amazing. The only warning I would give is DO NOT take cameras off the boat without somehow protecting them from waves or splashes... I realised this when my digital camera got hit with a wave. It was OK for a little while, but because I wasn't able to disassemble it then and there to clear out the salt water, by that evening it was acting up, and the following morning presented me with a camera no longer able to take any photos at all, due to corrosion in the lens assembly and shutter release mechanism.

Overall, despite this little hiccup, which was no fault of the tour operators at all, the tour was stunning and a lot of fun. I was thrilled by the sensation of speeding over the waves, and even though I am not much of a boatie, I felt safe and secure enough to perch on the side of the boat as we barrelled along, the wind streaming past me and the water just a blur below. It was a real blast, and if you consider that a 2 hour trip is only $55 per adult and $35 per child under 12, it's great value for money. Landlubbers, put your togs on and go for it... it's a real blast and there are even places you can go swimming, if time and weather allow.