Island Hopper Day Cruise

You will find us on the beach at Paihia. We won’t be hard to find once you get there, just walk along the beach and you will see the boat anchored very close to the shoreline.

Absolutely! But not too wet -you will have to step into the water to get onto the boat. Sometimes it is ankle or calf-deep, other times a wave will roll in and it may be up to your knees. So kick your shoes off and roll up your trousers before you step aboard. Sometimes we get the odd wave splash on the boat, it’s all part of the fun!

Just the usual – bottle of water, warm clothing/ jacket, footwear for the island walks, swimwear, towel hat, sunglasses, sunblock (please not spray sunblock it eats the paint) and please do bring clothing that you can cover up with, the summer sun can be intense on your skin so be prepared for this as much as the possibility of cool wind.

Nope, kick off your shoes at the shore and experience the Kiwi barefoot culture for yourself, it’s quite liberating!

No, the boat sits flat while sailing which means it is a very comfortable experience, especially for first-time sailors or families with children. There is plenty of deck space and we have bean bags to relax on if you are sitting on the front half of the boat, the back half has seating.

Yes, our skipper loves to get people involved if they want to take the helm or help set the sails. There are some conditions or points of sail that it is not practical to have others helm the boat, but for the most part, you are very welcome.

Our delicious packed picnic lunch is all made in a handy bag ready for you to take with you on your island adventures. It includes a delicious freshly made deli sandwich, fruit, muffin/cake, chips and a muesli bar. It’s a nutritious lunch, with some goodies for the sweet tooth. We don’t like anyone going hungry so we’ve made sure it's a good portion. Vegetarian option available, please select how many vegetarian lunches for your group when booking.

Please note: special dietary requirements such as allergies, gluten-free, vegan or any specifics should be self-catered for your safety and personal satisfaction.

Yes, we do. We use the motor to get in and out of the beach to anchor. We just love sailing! So we like to sail as much as possible, the boat performs far better under sail than under motor so sailing it is! There are times where if there is not enough wind to reach our destination we will have to use the engine or to keep to our schedule – we don’t like to make anyone late to catch their ferry/bus.

Yes, we do see dolphins, not every day but they are there and if they happen to be where we are sailing it is a lovely experience to see them play around the boat. We like to advise you that the resident dolphins in the Bay of Islands are very sensitive to human interaction, we do not encourage any interaction with them, we will not follow them nor do we do any swimming with them. We prefer to leave them be to do what dolphins do best…be dolphins in the wild !!

We have children of all ages on our cruises, even babies on occasion. The trip is 2 hours sailing to the island, 2 hours at the island, and 2 hours sail home. This is a considerable time for kids, but we find they are usually entertained with all the goings-on and the beach time is great. If your child is exceptionally active this might not be too well suited as we can't allow them to run around the boat, but play is ok, and we are really happy for interactive kids to join the sailing.

Our experience is if both parents are very nervous on the boat the kids will play up, so one confident parent is the key to a good day sailing. Please consider the enjoyment of our other guests too when deciding whether it is a suitable trip for your family. If you are unsure please call we are happy to chat with you about it, and we’d love you to enjoy an amazing family day experiencing the Bay of Islands with us. 

New Zealand can be tricky to plan for with the weather particularly when choosing outdoor activities, so to be realistic you just have to be prepared for anything.

We do try our best and are very vigilant when it comes to weather forecasting.

Safety is always our foremost concern, then comfort. We are generally not too bothered by a rain shower here or there. It is an open boat, so we have rain poncho’s to cover up and stay warm/dry, or you can pop down into the cabins if you want. If the forecast looks like a serious day of rain we which will make the trip a misery we will cancel/postpone, as we would like our guests to have a good experience.

The skipper is experienced to make decisions based on the weather, and the final decision will be his (keeping in mind that we are reliant on the information that is given to us, we can’t promise the forecast will be correct). If we decide to cancel a full refund will be given if we can’t make alternative arrangements for another day that suits your travel plans.

We are not licensed for the sale of alcohol however you may bring your own, limited to 1 bottle of wine or a 6 pack of beer per person, and strictly limited to 18 years of age and over.