3 Hours // Hole in the Rock Cruise & Bay of Islands Tour

26 Ratings

Paihia

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Escape the crowds on our small group cruise ship excursion, exploring 144 remote subtropical islands. Enjoy scenic cruising, island stopovers, wildlife spotting, bush walks, and snorkeling.

Duration: 3 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Bay of Islands - * Scenic Cruise through the Bay of Islands

Custom Vessels for Beach Landing
Two Remote Island Stopovers
Walking Trails & Breathtaking Views
Marine Wildlife / NZ Bird Life
Informative Commentary & History
Snorkelling
Personalised & Smaller Group Tours

Motuarohia (Roberton) Island Track - Stopover on Motuarohia (Twin Lagoons Island) and take a short walk to the island lookout for breathtaking views over the Bay of Islands
Motukokako Island / Piercy Island - Cruise out to Motu Kokako, often referred to as “the Hole in the Rock,” a stunning natural rock formation located at the end of the Cape Brett Peninsula. This iconic geological wonder features a distinctive, perfectly round hole that has been carved through the middle of the island by the forces of wind and water over thousands of years. A memorable and breathtaking experience amidst the pristine beauty of the Bay of Islands.

Visiting the Hole in the Rock is weather dependent. If conditions are not suitable on the day, an alternative route within the sheltered inner islands will be used.

What's Included

Smaller Group Tours (49 Guests Max)
Visit the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’ and Cape Brett Lighthouse
Remote island stopover (Roberton Island)
Scenic Cruise among 144 Islands
Wildlife spotting, commentary and information throughout the day

What's Not Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Lunch
Alcoholic Beverages

Additional Information

Discover the Bay of Islands, and take a scenic boat cruise through the 144 subtropical islands.

Visit the famous “Hole in the Rock” and Cape Brett Lighthouse.

Stopover on Roberton Island to take a short walk to the lookout point over the Twin Lagoons

Keep an eye out for our unique New Zealand sea birds and marine life, take a short walk along some of the island trails to breathtaking viewpoints while your crew provide commentary and information throughout the day.

• Scenic Cruising among 144 subtropical islands.
• Visit the Hole in the Rock and Cape Brett Lighthouse
• Remote island stopovers
• Native bush walks and 360 degree views from the island lookout points
• Lookout for unique wildlife throughout the day
• Interactive commentary and information

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS: If you are arriving in Waitangi Wharf, the cruiseship provides FREE shuttle buses for cruise ship guests to transfer you into Paihia (5 minute bus ride) The bus will drop you off outside the Paihia Wharf next to our check-in location - Pier 10 on the Paihia Wharf
Suitable for families, couples and solo travellers
Suitable for all ages
Please bring a swimsuit & towel, and appropriate clothing for the day
Please bring lunch& drink for the day
No-show will forfeit 100% of the ticket cost
Cruise-ship guests need to ensure their travel insurance covers them in the unlikely event that the cruise-ship does not stop in port, as we are unable to refund in these situations.
The “Hole in the Rock” section of the tour is weather dependent. If conditions are not suitable to travel to The Hole in the Rock, an alternative route within the sheltered inner islands will be used.

Location

Paihia Wharf

Check-in at Pier 10, on the Paihia Wharf at least 20 minutes before your departure. Arriving on a cruiseship? Cruise ships will tender you into Waitangi Wharf, or Paihia Wharf. FREE shuttle buses are provided by the cruiseship company to transfer you from Waitangi to Paihia Wharf. (5 minutes)

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.9

(26 Ratings)

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Rob_h

May 27, 2024

Perfect day in the Bay - Great day - excellent host. The hole in the rock is amazing. The saw two pods of dolphins, seals on the rock and an albatross.

Review provided by Viator

Richard_m

Feb 24, 2024

Must do! - Saw dolphins, fish, penguins, and enjoyed hearing about the area from knowledgeable guides. Perfect day!

Review provided by Viator

Craig45

Dec 13, 2023

Excellent trip - We had an excellent trip with Island GetawayTours. We did the 4.5 hr trip as a cruise shore excursion (but organised independently from the cruise ship). Staff were freindly, heplful and attentive. We visited the Hole in the rock Roberton and Urupukapuka Islands. BYO lunch, although there is a cafe at Otehei bay on Urupukapkua Island.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Belovedg2023

Mar 12, 2023

Great fun filled day! - Great trip, very nice staff that were very well organised. Beautiful oceanic views(if you're lucky like we were, you see some dolphins and some very pretty fishes. Would 100% recommend.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

765lynseyl

Feb 28, 2023

Take the tour don’t be a bore! - The trip was very well organised and made some special memories for the four of us. The time frame is set just right to enable the tour and activities. We enjoyed it from beginning to end and gained knowledge and new skills. The team all worked well to ensure we were all looked after and had a great time. Recommend this trip if you can spare the time.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Eileen_d

Jan 26, 2023

Something for everyone - This was a great tour! Despite some choppy seas, our boat driver was very competent and we felt very safe. Got to go to a great lookout and a private beach where we snorkled and got to use our underwater camera! All equipment was provided and the tour guides were very knowledgeable and patient. We even gotto try some sea urchin roe! Highly recommend!

Review provided by Viator

Sarahzim92

Jan 21, 2023

Beautiful Bay of Islands beach day! - This was such a relaxing and beautiful day. The tour was just as described. We met at the appointed time at the easy to find booking location in Paihia. Had a lovely boat ride to Robertson island with a 10 min hike, tea, and biscuits. We passed a few other islands and made our final stop at an island with a sheltered area for swimming, paddle boarding, and snorkeling. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. Our guides explained a bit about the history, the islands, and the general area throughout the tour. Once we were at our beach time for the day, we were on our own, though they were both so helpful getting us started with paddle boarding and snorkeling. We had enough time at the beach to really relax, and we arrived back in Paihia with plenty of time left in the day. Highly recommend supporting this small business if you're in the Bay of Islands!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

512rhondal

Dec 6, 2022

One of the highlights of our trip - Great trip, very nice staff. We visited two islands, the first island they provided tea & biscuits (cookies) the second island We tried fresh urchin

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Cliffgwashburn

Nov 30, 2022

Great trip - Lovely snorkeling and stand up paddle boarding, beautiful scenic short hike, and great boating. Our guides were wonderful. A bit of sea spray sitting on left side of boat towards back

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T4306nrdong