New Zealand · BOAT TOURS IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS
Good boat tours in the Bay of Islands fill up over summer; the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Small-boat Bay of Islands cruise with Hole in the Rock, Cape Brett, and two island stops for walks, swimming, and snorkeling gear.
“Loved this boat trip, definitely book with this local company, they were brilliant. We had a great time and learnt so much and they couldn’t have been nicer - thank you!”
Cruise the Bay of Islands from Paihia or Russell, spot dolphins, aim for Motukōkako, then swim at Urupukapuka Island.
“Excellent trip. Very informative and stunning scenery. The staff were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.”
Small-group Bay of Islands cruise with snorkel gear, two island hikes, Hole in the Rock, and Cape Brett Lighthouse from Paihia.
“Great tour but it truly was the kindness and helpfulness of the staff that made it such a good to us. Highly recommend”
Overnight Bay of Islands adventure by boat with night kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, island walks, meals, and shared cabins.
“Fun trip all the way - night kayaking, morning snorkel, island walk, fishing and a friendly, fun crew who were enthusiastic and helpful. Food was great and the toilets and showers worked well. Overall it was a great night out on the boat with thRead more”
Sail the Bay of Islands on the working tall ship R. Tucker Thompson with scones, BBQ lunch, and an optional ferry ride to Russell.
“We enjoyed our experience tremendously. It was wonderful to sail in a schooner with no noise other than wind and ocean waves. The side trip to an uninhabited island beach was great. I enjoyed climbing on a rope ladder to the main maRead more”
Small-group 3-hour cruise from Paihia to Roberton Island and Hole in the Rock, with wildlife spotting. From $78.
“we thought the whole experience was first class. The crew Hamish,Bluebell and Roberta were exceptional very freindly and very knowledgeable.”
Paihia glass bottom boat to Hole in the Rock, plus fish feeding through a glass floor. Small group, 2.5 hours, family-friendly.
“We really enjoyed this trip. Jeff our guide was great. He was very knowledgeable and very friendly. It was a lot of fun, especially the Hole in the Rock. We loved feeding the fish and watching them all swimming around through the glass bottom. We would highly recommend this tour.”
Sail the Bay of Islands by catamaran, snorkel and paddle on included gear, then spend 2 hours at a wildlife sanctuary island stop.
“10/10: would recommend. Shawn and Luke crushed it, made us feel relaxed and at home. Had a great time on the boat and island.”
Small-group Bay of Islands 4.5-hour cruise with Hole in the Rock, Twin Lagoons walk, snorkelling stops, and live skipper commentary.
“Nick was great captain. I’ve had boats before but the way he navigated that boat through Hole in the Rock was impressive! Very informative tour”
Cruise the Bay of Islands, stop on Urupukapuka for island lunch, and try to sail through Hole in the Rock when conditions allow.
“lovely tour. great skipper that explained the areas we saw well. got us through the hole in the wall as well. we could have stayed longer at the lunch spot ( we picked the shorter option ) topped off will some dolphins playing with the boat”
Cruise the Bay of Islands from Paihia, pass through Hole in the Rock (conditions permitting), spot dolphins, and enjoy an island BBQ lunch.
“Unfortunately it was a bit rough and windy to sail through the hole but we got a bonus with four frolicking dolphins who approached our boat and put on a show! The tour was just the right length of time with lunch thrown in. Would recommend to others.”
Half-day Hole in the Rock cruise with dolphin spotting and a 90-minute Urupukapuka Island break at Otehei Bay.
“Great boat ride! Absolutely breathtaking scenery. The captain actually took the boat through the hole in the rock. This is an excursion that should not be missed!! Stopped at a beautiful cove too.”
Cruise on a real sailing yacht in the Bay of Islands from Russell, with island time, snorkeling gear, kayaks, and a tasty lunch.
“Unreal day for this boat trip. They held out despite the weather forecast being bad and it ended up being amazing. They served an absolutely lovely lunch and were so friendly and chilled the entire time. Couldn’t recommend enough, the whole group absolutely loved it. Thankyou so much!”
Cruise the Bay of Islands from Russell on Phantom, max 10 aboard, with snorkeling, an island hike, and a home-made deck lunch.
“A pure sailing trip, a day at sea, let the wind carry you . Expect to be on deck most of the day with an hour on an island.”
A 4.5-hour Bay of Islands cruise with island walks, snorkel gear, possible Hole in the Rock, Cape Brett Lighthouse, and wildlife spotting.
“I booked this tour months ago and was really looking forward to seeing this beautiful area. We got in line 15 minutes early and a worker came and told us they were trying to get the boat working. He returned a few minutes later and told us the Read more”
From the fiords to the geothermal belt, sorted by what you want to do with the day.
