Bay of Islands Cruises

Bay of Islands cruises leave from Paihia and Russell and head for the Hole in the Rock, the beach at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island, or a quiet anchorage under sail. They run from a 1.5-hour fast boat to a night on a houseboat, so the real decision is how long you want on the water and what you want to do once you're out there.

Hole in the Rock cruises: fast boat or catamaran

The shortest way out is the fast boat to the Hole in the Rock. It's a 1.5-hour run from Paihia Wharf in suspension seats, with the skipper giving commentary at key points. It heads for Cape Brett and Cathedral Cave, and goes through the Hole in the Rock itself when conditions permit.

The catamaran cruises take longer and spend more time on land. The Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise leaves from both Paihia and Russell on a purpose-built catamaran with large outdoor viewing decks, then makes a 1.5-hour stop at Otehei Bay. Discover the Bay is a half-day version with a lunch stop at the Otehei Bay café.

For a full-day option, the Day in the Bay cruise follows the old Cream Trip route past Black Rocks and Marsden Cross to the Hole in the Rock, then gives you a 3-hour stopover at Otehei Bay with time for walks, a swim and boom netting.

Dolphin and wildlife cruises

Common and bottlenose dolphins live in the bay, and a few cruises are built around finding them. The Dolphin Eco Cruise runs as a 4-hour trip under a Department of Conservation marine mammal licence, with a 1.5-hour stop on Urupukapuka Island, where guides point out native birds reintroduced there, such as tīeke and kākāriki. It runs daily between October and April.

Several cruises carry a marine mammal viewing guarantee, which means a free repeat trip if none are seen. The terms differ from cruise to cruise.

Day cruises with snorkelling and lunch

The Bay of Islands day cruise with snorkelling and lunch is a 6-hour trip from Paihia Wharf that adds kayaking, an island walk and a picnic lunch to the scenery.

Barefoot Sailing Adventures goes the other way: a 33ft performance catamaran from Paihia Beach, a packed lunch, and a visit to a pest-free wildlife sanctuary island where blue penguins are among the birds to look for. Snorkelling, swimming and paddleboarding are optional, and you can take a turn sailing the boat yourself.

Tall ship and evening sails

The R. Tucker Thompson tall ship runs a full-day sail from Russell between late October and mid April, with morning tea, a barbecue lunch and an island stopover. A 1.45-hour afternoon sail is the lighter option. Passengers can help set the sails or climb the rigging, or leave it to the crew. A charitable trust runs the ship, and profits go to youth sail training.

On summer evenings, the sundowner cruise is a 2-hour sail around the inner bays of Paihia, Opua, Russell and Waitangi, with a swim stop at a sheltered anchorage and a drink on board.

Overnight on the water

The Rock Overnight cruise is a floating houseboat that leaves Paihia Wharf at 5pm and returns around 3pm the next day. It includes dinner, breakfast and a shared cabin, with snorkelling, dusk fishing and a kayak paddle when the phosphorescence is glowing.

Kayak trips that start with a ferry ride

Two guided kayak trips sit among the cruises because the first leg is a boat. The Island Discovery Tour is a half-day paddle from Otehei Bay after a 40-minute ferry ride, with snorkelling and no experience needed. The Island Adventure Tour is a full-day trip into sea caves for fit, experienced paddlers.

Choosing between Bay of Islands cruises

Pick by time first. A 1.5-hour fast boat suits a short window, a half-day catamaran cruise gives you the island stop, and a full-day trip lets you swim, walk and snorkel. After that, pick by what you want to do: dolphins, sailing or sleeping on the water.

Cruises are one part of the bigger list of things to do in the Bay of Islands, and the same boats also feed into Bay of Islands tours and Bay of Islands activities that run on the islands and ashore.

Frequently asked questions

How long are Bay of Islands cruises?

Bay of Islands cruises range from a 1.5-hour fast boat to the Hole in the Rock to a 22-hour overnight stay on The Rock houseboat. Half-day catamaran cruises include a 1.5-hour stop at Otehei Bay, and full-day trips run as a 6-hour sailing day or a 7-hour Day in the Bay cruise.

Where do Bay of Islands cruises leave from?

Most Bay of Islands cruises leave from Paihia Wharf or Paihia Beach, and several catamaran cruises also pick up from Russell Wharf. The R. Tucker Thompson full-day sail leaves from Russell, with the ferry transfer from Paihia included.

Can you see dolphins on a Bay of Islands cruise?

Common and bottlenose dolphins live in the Bay of Islands, and the Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise and the Dolphin Eco Cruise are set up to find them. Sightings can't be promised, so several cruises offer a marine mammal viewing guarantee with a free repeat trip, and the terms vary by cruise.

Where do cruise ships dock at the Bay of Islands?

Cruise ships don't dock at the Bay of Islands. They anchor in the bay and passengers usually tender ashore at Waitangi or Paihia, depending on the ship's arrangements.

Which Bay of Islands cruise suits a cruise ship stop?

The 1.5-hour Fast Boat Ocean Adventure and the half-day Hole in the Rock cruises are the shortest options from Paihia. Check the return time against your ship's all-aboard time before booking.

Is the fast boat to the Hole in the Rock suitable for children?

The Fast Boat Ocean Adventure is not suitable for children under 7, and passengers need to meet the height and weight limits set by the operator. Catamaran cruises such as the Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise sell child tickets from 5 years.

Work out how many hours you can spare on the water, then pick the boat to match. If the Hole in the Rock is the one you've come for, leave a spare day in case the sea has other ideas.