Dolphin days: just lying back at Leigh

Dolphins, part of a pod of between 20 and 30, frolic in the Hauraki Gulf. Photo / Tammy Lee

A Wellsford family enjoying a day in the Hauraki Gulf near Leigh were delighted to have some extra visitors along for the afternoon.

Tammy Lee said her husband, Storm Lee, had planned to do some fishing with the couple's 2-year-old son Marshall and granddad Paul Lee when they spotted a pod of dolphins frolicking in the surf.

"We'd been out fishing from 6.30 that morning over the other side towards Omaha and we were just coming back to take the little one out for a little fish but we saw dolphins instead," Mrs Lee said.

A dolphin spotted playing in the Hauraki Gulf near Leigh. Photo / Tammy Lee

"They just looked like they were having fun and playing, jumping in pairs and all sorts."

The pod was probably made up of between 20 and 30 dolphins, she said.

"I've never seem them like that before. It was neat to see - they were catching little waves into the bay as well," Mrs Lee said.

Another boat on the water also joined in the dolphin-watching, she said.