Bay of Islands: Island Hopper Sailing Cruise & Wildlife Stop

Summary

Bay of Islands sailing day with wildlife island stopover, picnic lunch and water activities

You’ll step right from Paihia’s beach onto a relaxed catamaran for a Bay of Islands sailing cruise with local guides who actually know their stuff. Explore a wildlife sanctuary island — hike, snorkel or just sit back with your picnic lunch and listen to native birds overhead. There’s time for paddle boarding too if you’re feeling brave. It’s easygoing but quietly special.

What’s the experience like?

"You ever seen a bird with blue feet?" our guide, Jamie, asked as we drifted up to this little beach somewhere in the Bay of Islands. I hadn’t. The sand was still cool under my toes when we hopped off the catamaran — which by the way, has bean bags everywhere (I may have claimed one too early). The boat had just enough people that you could actually hear the wind and not just chatter. Jamie handed out mugs of coffee while someone else tried to untangle a paddle board leash. The air smelled salty and faintly like sunscreen — someone’s SPF coconut maybe?

The sail out from Paihia was longer than I expected but honestly, I didn’t mind. You get these moments where the sun flickers through the sails and you can see all 144 islands scattered around — some tiny, some bigger than they look on maps. At one point, a local guy named Matua started pointing out Māori names for each island. I tried repeating one and he grinned at me like, “Nice try.” There was something about hearing those old names that made it feel less like a regular day trip to Bay of Islands and more like you’re borrowing someone else’s backyard for an afternoon.

The wildlife sanctuary island itself is quiet in a way I didn’t expect — birds everywhere but not noisy. We did a short hike through bush tracks; the ground felt spongy underfoot and there were these bursts of green ferns everywhere. Lunch was simple but good (I went vegetarian — they remembered), eaten cross-legged on the grass while someone else snorkeled off the shore. Honestly, I’m not much of a swimmer so I stuck to watching from the rocks. Still think about that view sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Bay of Islands sailing and island stopover

• Board catamaran at Paihia beachfront
• Sail among Bay of Islands
• Relax or help sail the boat
• Stop 2 hours at wildlife sanctuary island
• Snorkel, paddle board, or hike
• Enjoy morning tea and picnic lunch
• Sail back with cold drink
• Disembark at Paihia beachfront

Top questions

How long is the Bay of Islands Island Hopper sailing cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately 6 hours including sailing time and an island stopover.

Is lunch included on this Bay of Islands sailing tour?

Yes, a packed picnic lunch is included along with morning tea and a cold drink on the return sail.

What activities are available during the wildlife sanctuary island stop?

You can snorkel, paddle board, hike bush tracks or swim during the 2-hour island stopover.

Does this day trip depart from Paihia?

Yes, you board directly from Paihia's beachfront onto the catamaran.

Are guides provided on this Bay of Islands cruise?

Yes, experienced local guides are onboard providing commentary and assistance throughout the tour.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes, snorkeling gear is provided for guests who want to swim during the island stopover.

Are vegetarian lunch options available?

Vegetarian options are available if requested at booking.

How many people are on board each cruise?

The maximum group size is usually between 16-20 people per boat.

What’s included

Your day includes stepping straight from Paihia’s beach onto a modern catamaran with all activities covered: use of stand-up paddle boards and snorkeling gear, guided commentary from locals who know every corner of these islands, morning tea and packed picnic lunch (vegetarian option available), plus plenty of time for hiking bush tracks or relaxing before you sail back with a cold drink in hand.