Recently Viewed
Island Hopper Day Cruise: 6-Hours Sailing Adventure to Wildlife Sanctuary
5.0
276 Ratings
Paihia
Embark on a 6-hour sailing adventure in the Bay of Islands. Discover remote islands, encounter rare bird species, and enjoy snorkeling, paddleboarding, hiking, and swimming.
Embark on a 6-hour sailing adventure in the Bay of Islands. Discover remote islands, encounter rare bird species, and enjoy snorkeling, paddleboarding, hiking, and swimming.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Bay of Islands - Enjoy a 6 hour sailing cruise in the beautiful Bay of Islands. We take you on a cruise among the many islands of the Eastern Bay of Islands, and enjoy a 2 hour island stopover at a wildlife sanctuary island to enjoy optional activities like snorkelling, paddle boarding, and nature walks. This really is the Ultimate Bay of Islands Sailing Cruise.
- Bay of Islands - Enjoy a 6 hour sailing cruise in the beautiful Bay of Islands. We take you on a cruise among the many islands of the Eastern Bay of Islands, and enjoy a 2 hour island stopover at a wildlife sanctuary island to enjoy optional activities like snorkelling, paddle boarding, and nature walks. This really is the Ultimate Bay of Islands Sailing Cruise.
What's Included
- Local guide
- Lunch
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Use of stand up paddle board
- Live commentary on board
- All activities
- Tea and coffee
- Island Hikes in the wildlife sanctuary bush tracks
- Local guide
- Lunch
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Use of stand up paddle board
- Live commentary on board
- All activities
- Tea and coffee
- Island Hikes in the wildlife sanctuary bush tracks
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
Additional Information
Experience a day filled with enchantment as you sail through the Bay of Islands.
Stroll from the sandy shores of Paihia and onto a state-of-the-art catamaran, cruising through the bay’s 144 islands towards an isolated island destination.
• Explore the Bay of Islands in true ‘Kiwi’ style on a full day of sailing adventure
• Travel aboard a comfortable…
Experience a day filled with enchantment as you sail through the Bay of Islands.
Stroll from the sandy shores of Paihia and onto a state-of-the-art catamaran, cruising through the bay’s 144 islands towards an isolated island destination.
• Explore the Bay of Islands in true ‘Kiwi’ style on a full day of sailing adventure
• Travel aboard a comfortable catamaran equipped with bean bags and cozy seating for your comfort
• Choose to relax or join in sailing the boat with your amiable, skilled crew
• Partake in a 2-hour stopover on an island where you can snorkel, paddle board, hike, or swim
• Visit protected wildlife islands to see native plants and rare bird species
• Enjoy a morning tea, a delicious packed picnic lunch, and a cool drink during the return sail
• The catamaran docks right at the beach, allowing easy boarding and disembarking for your island ventures!
- This trip requires a reasonable level of physical ability to safety board the boat, this can be challenging for people with knee problems
- Specific dietary requirements for allergies or food preferences should be catered by the customer for your safety and satisfaction. Vegetarian option available at time of booking if required.
- 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 for a distance of 200m
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Not recommended for people with poor mobility
Location
Barefoot Sailing Adventures
Marsden Road
You will find the Barefoot sailing catamaran anchored on the shore line at Paihia Beach, it won't be hard to find, it has Barefoot Sailing Adventures sign written along the side, and it is usually anchored at least 30 min prior to departure.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(276 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Shiv_a
May 19, 2025
A Catamaran Sail - 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.
Review provided by Viator
C2993pcashleyc
Apr 10, 2025
Bay Of Islands Gorgeous Day - A Wonderful day 6 hr round trip to see & absorb so much beautiful Bay Of Island scenery with wonderful/fun host Luke (& the lovely Bromley lady!), with lovely stop for picnic lunch/swim/walk in a secluded bay too. When we returned, even had some time to visit the nearby historic WaitangiTreaty site before it closed - before driving by Car back to Auckland.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
661kyliet
Apr 6, 2025
Unforgettable Sailing Experience with Barefoot Adventures - What an incredible day! Luke and the team at Barefoot Sailing Adventures were absolutely awesome — super friendly, professional, and made everyone feel welcome from the moment we stepped aboard. The yacht was beautiful and well-maintained, the lunch was fresh and delicious, and the views around the Bay of Islands were simply stunning. A truly relaxing and memorable experience on the water. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a perfect day out in paradise!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N7031rzlauriek
Mar 30, 2025
Best ever - Best sailing cruise ever
Luke our captain was the best !
Made us feel very welcome and had a great sense of humor .
Weather was perfect
Lunch provided was good.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristi
Mar 29, 2025
Beautiful scenery and nature - Very well organized and fun and relaxed atmosphere with lots of wildlife and a pod of dolphins that kept following our boat
Review provided by Tripadvisor
A6704bopatrickm
Mar 28, 2025
Tropical island cruise in the Bay of Islands. - Enjoyed a great sail, great day of activities. Luke and Carmen took great care of us, were knowledgable and great guides for the Bay of Islands. Luke is an able sailor and kept us safe. We enjoyed sailing, great conversations, snorkeling in a small bay of a beautiful tropical appearing island, paddle-boarding and a nice hike to a secluded bay on the other side of the island. We were lucky, and visited by dolphins twice, one time coming right up to the catamaran. Could not have asked for a more pleasant cruise.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
362madeleines
Mar 22, 2025
Best day in New Zealand! - A beautiful day on the water and idyllic island stop. Luke and Carmel took care of everything, even taking our shoes on-shore!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Samanthaft7962mj
Mar 17, 2025
Feels like a day out with friends on your own private catamaran. - If you do one tour/activity when in the Bay of Islands, do this one! It’s a relaxed and very special experience. The boat had a maximum of 10 guests, a mixture of couples, friends and a family group. None of the different bookings were known to each other, but Luke created a really lovely atmosphere on the boat which kept it personal, friendly and a shared experience. We found every one on the trip really nice and interesting, being on the boat felt really luxurious but low key at the same time. You are picked up from the beach, no queues or anxiety about whether you will get a good seat- because they are all good seats…well super comfy beanbags arranged around the Catamaran. If you are interested or want to have a go, Luke will let you help sail, man the tiller. Or you can sit back and be served refresh,ents whilst taking in the beauty of the water and islands. We sailed out to a predator free island where we got to spend a decent two hours snorkelling, paddle boarding and swimming, we pretty much had the cove all to ourselves. Barefoot provide you with a home made packed lunch to picnic on the beach and you can go for a walk and see an abundance of native birds including saddlebacks. On the gentle sail back to Paihia some of the group saw a penguin, the others were catching rays and blissing out in the sun with the waves gently slapping the boat. We were served a refreshing choice of drinks on the way home. This tour is not like a tour, there are no queues and no rushing or whistle stop tours of islands. You have time to take it all in and Luke is very relaxed and patient if you want a last minute swim before the boat makes its return. It’s not a large scale operation and that is why it feels so personal and I think makes it a more memorable way to experience the beauty and majesty of the Bay of Islands. They are a local company and small business and they work in partnership to help maintain the conservation work on the islands. Some experiences in life just resonate with your soul, you can recall almost every moment of it even if it’s 20 years since it happened, and this trip is one of those. You won’t ever forget or reduce to a vague memory, this trip will become one of your ‘ happy place’ you can always go to when life isn’t sitting on a catamaran on a sunny day in the beautiful bay of islands. Book it! You will love it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sam_f
Mar 7, 2025
If you do one trip do this one!! - 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.
Review provided by Viator
Markbo9816vs
Feb 28, 2025
Terrific Trip - Perfect Day - Best Crew - Great Boat - Good Lunch…Thank you very much for the super Trip and your funny Humor, we had a Great day😃
Review provided by Tripadvisor
