Paihia Bay of Islands: 6-Hour Catamaran Cruise & Island Snorkel

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/22

Duration6h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Six Hours Sailing the Bay of Islands: Catamaran, Snorkel & Island Hike

You board a catamaran directly from Paihia beach and sail among 144 islands for six hours, including a two-hour stopover at a wildlife sanctuary where you choose between snorkeling, paddle boarding, or bush walks. Lunch, morning tea, all equipment and a local guide are included. The boat holds 16 to 20 people maximum and returns to the same beach by mid-afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bay of Islands sailing and island stopover

Board catamaran at Paihia beachfront
Sail among Bay of Islands
Relax or help sail the boat
Enjoy morning tea on board
Stop at wildlife sanctuary island
Snorkel, paddle board, or hike
Step on and off from beach
Have packed picnic lunch on island
Return sail with cold drink

The Experience

The catamaran pulls straight up to Paihia's beach, and you step from the sand onto the deck without a dock in sight. That's the first thing that sets this apart — no waiting around a terminal, no boarding pass shuffle. You're on the water within minutes, the 144 islands of the Bay of Islands spreading out ahead as the crew raises the sails and points the bow toward the Eastern Bay. The boat holds a maximum of 16 to 20 people, so it never feels crowded, and the catamaran itself is built for this: bean bags scattered across the deck, proper seating, room to move around without bumping elbows. If you want to help sail, the crew will show you how; if you'd rather just sit and watch the water, that works too.

After about an hour and a half, you pull into a wildlife sanctuary island for a two-hour stopover. This is where the day splits into what you want to do. Some people wade in with a snorkel and mask — the equipment is provided, and the water is clear enough to see fish and the rocky bottom without much effort. Others grab a paddle board and push out from the beach, or they take one of the marked walking tracks that wind through native bush where you might spot tui or fantails if you're quiet enough. The hikes aren't long, but the ground is uneven and the pace is your own. You can do all three, or pick one and spend the rest of the time floating on the sand. The crew brings morning tea before you leave Paihia, and at the island you get a packed lunch — vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options are available if you request them when you book.

The sail back takes another couple of hours, and this is when most people stretch out on the bean bags or lean against the rail with a cold drink, watching the islands slide past. The crew gives live commentary as you go, pointing out landmarks and the birds that live out here. By the time the catamaran noses back toward Paihia's beach, you've been on the water for six hours, but it doesn't feel like a day you've spent sitting still — it feels like a day you've actually done something. The boat pulls right up to the beach again, and you step off onto the sand the same way you got on.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or beach pickup (step directly onto the catamaran from Paihia's shore), snorkeling equipment and paddle board use, morning tea and a packed lunch with cold drinks on the return sail, live commentary from the crew, and access to all island activities — snorkeling, paddle boarding, swimming and guided nature walks through the wildlife sanctuary bush tracks. A local guide is on board for the full six-hour cruise.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Barefoot Sailing Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day on the water without arranging your own boat, equipment or island access — the catamaran, guide, lunch and all gear are sorted, and the two-hour island stopover gives you real time to snorkel or explore without feeling rushed.