NEW ZEALAND · REGION
New Zealand's best.
New Zealand's 15 most popular bay of islands tours, in one place. What each one is actually like, who runs it, and what you will pay.
Bay of Islands cruise from Paihia or Russell with 2 island stops, snorkeling, and a weather-dependent run through Hole in the Rock.
“Nick, the captain & Dan, the crew, were fantastic hosts. So informative & funny. Happy to chat about the area & they had so much knowledge to share. We had great weather too”
Full-day Paihia trip to Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach, with Māori stories, sandboarding, lighthouse views, and beach lunch for $104.
“Very convenient way to be able to travel around Cape Reinga. Plenty of rest stops and sights to see. Drive over beach was great!”
Catamaran cruise to the Hole in the Rock with dolphin and whale spotting, plus a 1.5-hour Urupukapuka island stop and cafe time.
“Absolute highlight of our 6-month travels around Oceana!! When the pod of dolphins were located, it was an absolute WOW moment - 100% recommended.”
Sail the Bay of Islands on the R. Tucker Thompson with scones, BBQ lunch, and optional Paihia–Russell ferry tickets.
“Capt Magnus and his crew showed us just how beautiful the Bay of Islands really is! Fascinating to learn the history of the ship’s creation and how this activity directly supports youth development in sailing. Bravo Zulu!”
Small-group Bay of Islands cruise from Paihia to Roberton Island and Hole in the Rock, with wildlife spotting and live guide commentary.
“The islands were beautiful, it was great fun and value for money. The guides provided lots of information/stories and humour! I would definitely recommend going.”
Paihia glass-bottom boat to Hole in the Rock. Feed fish from the water, watch dolphins when lucky, and enjoy Bay of Islands coves.
“Amazing we didn’t do the hole in the rock due to swell, but the island tourer was great”
A fast, guided Bay of Islands shore trip with Haruru Falls, Kawiti Glow Worm Caves, kauri trees, and chocolate tasting from Waitangi.
“This is a great tour and the caverns are magical. The tour guide was friendly and explain every question. Very knowledgeable”
Small-group 4.5-hour Bay of Islands cruise: Roberton Island snorkelling, Hole in the Rock, live commentary, wildlife spotting.
“It was an amazing experience! Shae and Tish are lovely ladies, very welcoming and make the experience 10x more fun! Thank you for the best experience 🫶🏼”
Sail past 144 Bay of Islands islands, chase wildlife, and (weather permitting) pass through Hole in the Rock, plus lunch and a 1.5-hour island break.
“Excellent. Beautiful location, fun and friendly staff. The food was great for lunch too. We saw two bottlenose dolphin and learned lots about the area and history.”
Tandem 12,000ft skydive over Bay of Islands with 40 seconds freefall, pickup in Paihia/Kerikeri, optional photo/video, $93.
“This is the most efficient, well run place I have ever seen. It’s a tight ship and they know what they’re doing. Of course I had a great time; I was skydiving.”
Deluxe yacht sailing from Russell with snorkeling gear, kayaks, island time, and a catered lunch in the Bay of Islands.
“Enjoyed our day of sailing the Bay of Islands, which included kayaking, hiking and swimming. Highly recommended.”
Full-day Far North coach tour from Paihia to Cape Reinga, 90 Mile Beach, Kāuri and Mangonui, with lunch and sandboarding if conditions allow.
“Our guide, Tania, was very knowledgeable and had lots of amusing stories about the region. The bus goes right up on the beach. It was a real pleasure to be able to move between sites without having to drive ourselves and risk getting stuRead more”
4.5-hour Bay of Islands cruise with Roberton Island walk, Hole in the Rock, snorkeling, and wildlife viewing on a small-group boat.
“Adam and Cass were great! The hike on Robinson Island, seeing 1 dolphin swim around the boat, and boating thru the hole in rock was special! Great location for lunch with our prepaid yummy lunches. The boat provided fins, mask, snorkel but disappointed the visibility at snorkeling location was not so good. Highly recommend this…”
Sail the Bay of Islands on Phantom with a 10-person cap, snorkeling gear, a shore hike for views, and a home-made lunch from Russell.
“Having plenty of time on the helm of Phantom. The skipper shared his knowledge and experiences in a pleasant and jovial manner.”
Sail from Paihia to a wildlife sanctuary island for 2 hours of snorkel and SUP plus hiking, lunch, and drinks on a catamaran.
“Very enjoyable and informative trip, and the simple picnic lunch was delicious. I was on my own and felt that I was given just the right balance of care and respect for solitude. It was great we could stop to watch some penguins swimming on the way, and I enjoyed my turn at the tiller.”
