Experience a personalised, small group tour to explore the Bay of Islands. Cruise around some the 144 islands taking in the stunning views and looking for wildlife. Enjoy stops for snacks, paddle boarding and snorkelling.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Mobile ticketing: Use your phone or print your voucher
Duration 5 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Instant confirmation
Live tour guide: English

Highlights

Relax on the boat listening to the interesting commentary as you sail around the islands
Take in stunning views and keep a look out for local wildlife
Walk around Roberton Island and enjoy beachside refreshments
Stop to swim, snorkel and paddle board in the beautiful, blue water

Full description

Escape the crowds and experience the Bay of Islands on a personalised, small-group, interactive boat cruise. Combine the best activities of the Bay of Islands with interactive and informative commentary for an amazing day excursion. Stop at Roberton Island and disembark for a 10-minute walk along a native bush trail. At the end of the trail discover a breathtaking 360-degree viewpoint over the bay. Enjoy a complimentary beachside morning tea provided by the crew and have the opportunity to explore the tidal lagoons. Climb back on board and continue cruising among the 144 islands of the Bay keeping a lookout for marine wildlife and unique shorebirds. Your second island stop takes you to one of the Bay of Islands’ most secluded and unfrequented bays. Snorkel and explore the underwater reefs, take a walk along the island trail and try stand-up paddleboarding. Relax on the beach or jump in the water for a swim, do as much or as little as you want.

Includes

Scenic cruise
2 stopovers on remote islands
Wildlife spotting native bush walks
360-degree views from the island lookout points
Morning tea or coffee and biscuits
Use of snorkelling and paddleboarding equipment
Interactive commentary

Lunch

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned

Prepare for the activity

Meeting point

Please check-in at the Salt Air Office 15 minutes before your departure time (helicopter office next to the Paihia Wharf). Address: Marsden Rd, Paihia 0247, New Zealand.

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Important information

Know before you go

Be sure to bring your own swimsuit and towel
There is a marine toilet onboard the vessel
Tours are limited to a maximum of 20 participants for a more personalised and interactive experience
A minimum number of participants are required, in the unlikely event that these are not reached you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 57 reviews

Review summary

Guide
5/5
Value for money
4.7/5
Service
5/5
Organization
4.9/5

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This was definitely our best day whilst travelling North island. Linford our boat captain and tour guide must absolutely love his job to be so cheerful all day. He had great interesting knowledge of the area and the history. He explained everything as we travelled, stopping at the key locations. Nothing was rushed and we landed on two islands. A walk to an amazing lookout on the first island with tea and cookies to return to. Then 90 minutes on the second island where everyone could do their own thing. Linford supplied paddle boards, snorkels and masks for us to enjoy the secluded and calm cove. He told us about the local sea life and he collected sea urchins for us to taste the roe. It turned out to be very tasty and creamy. On the way back to Paihia Linford even spotted some penguins bobbing about and stopped for us to view them. The Bay of Islands is a beautiful area and if you are lucky enough to visit DO NOT miss this 5 hour tour. Thank you Linford.

March 8, 2020

Fantastic Day Out

Had a great trip with Linn and Blu as our Captain/host. Really enjoyed the beach experience and activities available, however the highlight of the trip was seeing a pod of dolphins who came to swim with us for a while. They were right by the boat and we got some great photo's.

April 15, 2019

Brilliant tour - don't bother with anything else!

My partner and I had a great day out on this tour. Lin was a great guide, relaxed and made everyone feel comfortable. He was really knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife we encountered. Bonus that we saw both penguins and dolphins throughout the day. The stops at the two islands was a perfect addition to the tours around the islands. This tour is a beautiful way to see the Bay of Islands. Don't miss it!!

April 10, 2019

Bay of Islands: 5-Hour Day Cruise and Island Getaway Tour

Bay of Islands: 5-Hour Day Cruise and Island Getaway Tour

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Fantastic Day Out

Brilliant tour - don't bother with anything else!

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