Island Hopper Day Cruise - sailing to wildlife sanctuary island - 6 hr cruise
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Bay of Islands, New Zealand
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
The Bay of Islands is made up of 144 islands, and the best way to explore them is by boat. On this island-hopping day cruise, you can relax on board a comfortable catamaran while admiring the beautiful views of the sea, islands, and maybe even some dolphins. Snorkel, swim, or paddle board, and stop on land to visit a wildlife sanctuary. This is the easy way to see the bay, as it’s difficult to travel here independently without a boat.
- All activities, and use of snorkel equipment, are included
- Morning tea and lunch will be provided
- Learn about the area through live on-board commentary
- A fun day out for the whole family
What's Included
- Lunch
- Coffee and/or Tea
- All activities
- Live commentary on board
- Local guide
- Use of Snorkeling equipmentUse of Snorkelling equipment
- Use of stand up paddle board
- Island Hikes in the wildlife sanctuary bush tracks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled waterPlease bring your own water bottle, we can refill for you. Tea/coffee provided.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Barefoot Sailing AdventuresMarsden Road, Paihia Beach, Paihia 0247, New Zealand
You will find the Barefoot sailing catamaran anchored close to the shore line about half way along the stretch of Paihia beach. It won't be hard to find, it has Barefoot Sailing Adventures footprint logo sign written along the side, and it is usually anchored at least 30 min prior to departure.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.10:00 am
Itinerary
1
Bay of Islands
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This trip requires a reasonable level of physical ability to safety board the boat, this can be challenging for people with knee problems
- CRUISE SHIP CUSTOMERS be advised that 1.5 - 2 hours either side of cruise ship anchor/departure is recommended to allow reasonable time to get to and from our cruise. We do not make allowances for a change in ship schedule or late arrivals. Normal terms and conditions apply.
- A maximum of 16-20 people on board
- A moderate amount of walking is involved if you choose to do the island walks, please wear appropriate footwear
- Due to uneven surfaces, and a moving boat, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or unstable in the legs
- Operates in most weather conditions, please dress appropriately, and be prepared for a day in the great outdoors
- Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
- Snorkel participants must be able to swim competently in open water without assistance from buoyancy aids
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free lunches are available if requested in the notes during the booking process. Please note LUNCHES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR FOOD ALLERGIES as we can't guarantee there is no cross contamination of allergens. If you have a food allergy please bring your own lunch for your personal safety and satisfaction.
- Not recommended for people with poor mobility
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Douglas_P
Our day was one of the best excursions we’ve ever had. Weather was perfect and the sail was so peaceful. Thank you Captain Mike for your expert handling and great hospitality. We won’t forget this day. And thanks to everyone who assisted us in assuring we were back on the ship on time. Word to cruisers, be sure you allow lots of time to meet your tour as it is a tender, shuttle to the beach and then a walk to meet up. Took us over an hr. Rachael and Mike were on top of trying to get us back on time also. Wonderful last day to our trip to NZ.
Reviews
5.0
based on 310 reviews
Douglas_P, Mar 2026
Our day was one of the best excursions we’ve ever had. Weather was perfect and the sail was so peaceful. Thank you Captain Mike for your expert handling and great hospitality. We won’t forget this day. And thanks to everyone who assisted us in assuring we were back on the ship on time. Word to cruisers, be sure you allow lots of time to meet your tour as it is a tender, shuttle to the beach and then a walk to meet up. Took us over an hr. Rachael and Mike were on top of trying to get us back on time also. Wonderful last day to our trip to NZ.
Rikke_L, Jan 2026
Our ship was diverted because of an incoming weather system, and the Bay of Islands stop was cancelled. We had no way to reach the meeting point for this excursion. The operator chose not to refund the booking even though the port was not accessible. Cruise travellers should be aware that there is no flexibility if a ship itinerary changes due to safety diversions.
Gillian_W, Jan 2026
A great leisurely day sailing/motoring across the bay of islands. We were lucky with the weather although more wind would have been better.
Tamra_L, Jan 2026
Very relaxed trip, the crew were friendly and full of information, the lunch was good we enjoyed it a lot. A very happy sailor⛵️
nathan_w, Dec 2025
Even with the high winds, large swells, and periodic rain, my partner and I had a great time on the cruise. Luke and his first mate were very welcoming and made the experience memorable. We opted for the nature walk on the island, about a 20 minute hike to a beautiful beach, where we ate lunch and took plenty of great pictures. Highly recommended and for the love of God, wear sunscreen.
Angela_D, Nov 2025
Bring clothes you can get wet and clothes to keep you dry. You are given the opportunity to snorkel, paddle board, hike, or just enjoy the day on the beach. I chose to hike and paddleboard, had a blast doing both.
Kelly_L, Nov 2025
Highly recommend this sailing excursion! We were excited to explore the Bay of Islands, and this trip exceeded our expectations. Luke and his crew were knowledgeable, professional, and a lot of fun. We enjoyed learning how to sail, and Luke took the time to answer our questions and even let us help sail the catamaran.
The boat was spotless and easy to get around, and we loved the clean, comfortable bean bag chairs scattered around the deck—they were definitely a highlight for us. We also had a great time exploring the island and paddleboarding. It was an unforgettable experience, and we’d absolutely do it again. Thanks for a fantastic day!
SHIV_A, May 2025
Travelled with Spouse and friends
Very helpful boarding and disembarking.
The catamaran kept boat steady.
The sails provide a quiet period with just the sound of water and occasional birds.
Sufficient time at the beach for swimmers and snorkeling, and for a short walk up the side of the island.
Lunch was fine.
Captain was very informative about the Bay of Islands and birds, though didn’t see many. Did see a pair of small penguins swimming.
Sam_F, Mar 2025
Barefoot offer you the experience to enjoy the bay of islands as they should be enjoyed. It’s no queuing for a big boat and not getting seats with a view, and then a whistle stop tour with a commentary. Luke and his team give you the experience of going out for the day with friends. It’s a small and personalised service and very relaxed. You get on the catamaran on the beach and sit on a comfortable bean bag, and everyone has the best view! The other people sharing your adventure with you are lovely and interesting and Luke is friendly and funny and you enjoy a hot drink and biscuit whilst you leisurely sail to your destination island. Your catamaran takes you to a sheltered beach where you have a lovely homemade packed lunch given to you and a choice of paddle boarding, snorkelling, swimming and bush walking. You are on the island for 2 hours. We did all of the activities and on our walk saw saddlebacks, tuis, fantails, tomtits, kingfisher, parakeets, grey warbler, swallows- it was magical. The journey back was more beautiful sailing whilst relaxing on the catamaran and drinking refreshing cold drinks. If you wanted you could join in with the sailing - which my partner particularly enjoyed. All in all a perfect day. It gave you the experience of chartering your own catamaran and pootling off to a private island with friends, but of course without the expense, stress and responsibilities. If you do one trip in the bay of islands, do this one. It is one that will give you treasured memories, and unforgettable for all the right reasons.
Larry_S, Feb 2025
Awesome day on the catamaran with knowledgeable, helpful staff. Luke and Nero were great. Encourage anyone do do this tour.
Aurele_G, Dec 2024
Great experience ! Luke is a very nice and funny person ! And his crew is fantastic ! Thank you for the Milo 😊
Michael_N, Dec 2024
Nice day great crew. Be sure to hike over the hill to the other cove. It is 10 x more beautiful that the cove they are able to dock in. And the walk is challenging but really nice.
Erika_v, Oct 2024
Because of bad weather we sailed a day later but what a fun time we had. Great sailing and I firmatiin by Luc and Jordan from Barefoots. Nice lunch and gorgeous Island we visited. We had a lovely day. Thnx guys!
Jennifer_P, May 2024
We loved this sailing experience, it was relaxing from start to finish! Sailing was beautiful. Luke and Rachel were exceptional hosts. The island sanctuary was peaceful and gorgeous.
One of the most beautiful and refreshing days of our lives.
Cannot recommend more highly!
honghai_l, Mar 2024
The crew were amazing and awesome. The beach was gorgeous. They did the best of it despite the unforeseen rain. I did snorkeling but waters were too cloudy from the rain. There is a limited four hrs street parking in front of the beach at your own risk of a ticket and the crew doesn’t recommend it since the activity is six hrs. It is highly recommended to park in the paid parking lot ($2.5nz/hr) about five minutes walk away. Lunch was an egg salad sandwich (definitely need to tell them if you have allergies or don’t like egg salad)
Gary_R, Mar 2024
Wonderful all female crew, gorgeous island (definitely do the walk to the other bay!) we saw a huge stingray while snorkelling and fell asleep as we sailed by wind home. A perfect day
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Hi Gary, thanks so much for the excellent review! Glad you enjoyed the experience and got some good relaxing in too :)
Gunter_K, Feb 2024
We particularly enjoyed the casual chatting on board, snorkeling and the island walk. We were very well catered for- we loved every minute…
Sharyn_G, Feb 2024
Great day with great people. Expert sail guides and wonderful scenery. Yummy lunch and plenty of time to snorkel and swim
Gillan_P, Feb 2024
A fantastic relaxing day in the company of like minded people. Luke & Michelle were very engaging and looked after us well. A tasty lunch was provided.
The weather was perfect and the walk on the island was worth it for the beautiful scenery.
Dennis_K, Feb 2024
A beautiful day out on the bay of Islands with Luke and Kate. They were outstanding hosts and very knowledgeable about the area. We love the excursion and had a wonderful day.
Wendy_T, Feb 2024
Beautiful sail! The crew was amazing and it was a very personable experience with great conversation with them. Relaxed, informative about the area, absolutely perfect!
Magdalena_L, Jan 2024
Lovely crew, well equipped with lunch and activities, very chill to sit on the bean bags. Also learned some interesting fact about the nature and culture.
Rachel_E, Jan 2024
Comfortable boat, friendly crew and great views made for a lovely day.
We were picked up on the beach, ( I think there were 14 of us) and had a great experience sailing to a nearby island with the option to hike to another beach, paddleboard, snorkel, swim or laze on the beach before returning to Paihia.
Would definitely recommend over larger more impersonal trips.
Amy_E, Jan 2024
Loved our day with Luke on his boat. He was very informative about the waters and the marine life. We had plenty of time to relax and enjoy some boat time. Thanks to Kate for being a most excellent first mate.
Neil, Dec 2023
Very enjoyable day out on a catamaran with Luke and Kate who not only were great hosts but had that sense of humour that makes the day all the more fun
Picnic was great
Wind was strong so sailing out to the island was good but necessarily on way back had to use motor
Kristina_Q, Dec 2023
We spent an excellent day discovering the bay of isilands. Luke gave many information about sailing, nature and history. During the 2 h lunch break we were walking on an island discovering the birds, swimming, snorkelling and stand up paddeling.
I recommend this trip
Andrew_H, Dec 2023
Our family really enjoyed the cruise out to the islands. If you are looking to see all of the islands as fast as possible, then this isn't the activity for you. This is for a relaxing trip out to one of the islands with great hosts in a beautiful setting. Thanks for the day, guys.
Liz_H, Dec 2023
The skipper was amazing. The boat was simply beautiful. The snorkelling was not cold and heaps of fish. Best day in NZ
Edward_L, Nov 2023
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.
Alex_W, Oct 2023
This was the best experience I had in the Bay of Islands, by far. Luke was very friendly and knowledgeable, not a single dull moment was spent aboard. It being a single boat, not run by a huge company, and with only a limited number of spots, makes a very intimate experience which adds to the whole package. The opportunity to do things and learn about sailing the boat is also awesome, seeing the effort it takes to hoist the sails or how a slight pull of the rudder changes your course. The time spent in the bay itself will be a memory for me as long as I live- the snorkeling is unmissable, no matter the temperature of the water, you'll get an unforgettable insight to a pristine marine environment (and it's not as cold as it seem, due to the sheltered nature of the bay).
The island itself is also and incredibly beautiful nature reserve, and fully deserving of its own exploration, once you've tucked into the delicious lunch included in the price.
If you have to choose one trip during your time in Paihia, this is the one.
From $135.30
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Island Hopper Day Cruise - sailing to wildlife sanctuary island - 6 hr cruise
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