Dolphins leap next to a kayaker in Northland's Oke Bay.

A hobby photographer has captured a spectacular image of dolphins leaping in the Bay of Islands.

Aucklander Steve Wilson was on a friend's launch at Oke Bay when he took the photo about 1.30pm on Friday.

"We'd just pulled into the bay and there was quite a number of families anchored out there and then the dolphins came out to play," he said.

"There were a few kids out on paddle boards and dinghies. These guys jumped right in and amongst them."

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There were about 12 bottlenose dolphins in the pod, including a few juveniles, Wilson said.

They stayed at the bay for at least half an hour.

Wilson said the children in the water seemed delighted to have an encounter with the dolphins.

"They were ecstatic – they were beside themselves, having a fantastic time."