A pod of orcas in the Bay of Islands have given two French tourists a holiday to remember after they swam near and then under their small inflatable boat.
Napier apple exporter Kelvin Taylor was his small inflatable tender near Moturoa Island on Monday with family friend Oliver Gazeau and his new wife Katia when at least four of the marine mammals came to play.
Mr Taylor, who has been holidaying in the area over summer for around five years, says normally he'd see dolphins in the area, but they'd scarpered with the hunting orcas in town.
"They came into the bay and we saw the great big fins coming along," Mr Taylor says.
(Kelvin Taylor)
It was the first time the Gazeau's, who don't live near the coast in France, had seen the animals up close and were surprised at how few people they were coming across on their trip.
"They don't live on the coast where they are, so being on the water and the sea and seeing these things is not the norm.
"They can't believe how there's nobody around. We go on the beach and we're the only ones there," Mr Taylor says.
Mr Gazeau shot a video of the animals as they swam underneath.
(Kelvin Taylor)
His sailing catamaran is normally moored in Opua, where orca have been known to visit though are a rarer sight than dolphins.
The Gazeaus and their seven-year-old son will spend a few more days in the Bay of Islands before continuing on to travel the rest of the country.
Mr Taylor says the Gazeaus have already sent photos to family and friends in France, and says it'll only be good for the tourism industry.
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