Things to do in Bay of Islands
The unmissables
Most booked
Paihia: Hole in the Rock Cruise & Island Snorkel★ 4.91 (845) · 4h 30m
Top rated
Bay of Islands Tall Ship Sailing: Hoist Sails, Lunch Included★ 4.91 (386) · 5h 30m
Best value
Bay of Islands Overnight Cruise Paihia: Snorkeling & Kayaking★ 4.88 (461) · 22h
Recommended (7)
Bay of Islands: Glow Worm Caves, Haruru Falls & Chocolate Tasting★ 4.53 (354) · 5h 30mNZ$ 245View ›
Waitangi Treaty Grounds: Museum & Māori Performance Day Pass★ 4.66 (348) · 1d–2dNZ$ 74View ›
Paihia Bay of Islands: 6-Hour Catamaran Cruise & Island Snorkel★ 4.96 (315) · 6hNZ$ 245View ›
Bay of Islands: Hole in the Rock Cruise & Island BBQ Lunch★ 4.55 (284) · 4h 30mNZ$ 190View ›
Paihia: Hole in the Rock Cruise & Dolphins Bay of Islands★ 4.55 (265) · 4h 30mNZ$ 170View ›
Cape Reinga & 90 Mile Beach: Full-Day Far North Tour from Paihia★ 4.57 (259) · 10h–11hNZ$ 195View ›
Bay of Islands: Small-Group Sailing & Island Hopping Day Tour★ 4.91 (231) · 5h 30mNZ$ 205View ›Top rated (10)
Bay of Islands Catamaran Sailing & Island Stop from PaihiaYou board at Paihia Wharf and sail the Bay of Islands for six hours on a catamaran with a maximum of 19 guests. You get a two-hour island stop where you can snorkel, paddleboard, swim or walk ashore—or simply sit and rest. Lunch is served onboard with dietary options available, and the crew handles the commentary on local wildlife and history while you watch for dolphins and penguins. The whole thing is designed so you don't have to arrange transport, equipment or timing yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Bay of Islands without driving yourself or coordinating separate activities—the boat, the gear, the lunch and the timing are all arranged, and the small group size means you're not herded through the day.
Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands: Small group yacht tour with lunchPhantom is a small-group sailing tour of the Bay of Islands aboard a live-aboard yacht with a maximum of 10 guests, led by Rick and Robin, who have spent two decades sailing these waters and raising their family on the boat. The tour includes a guided sail through the bay, a one-hour island stop for hiking or swimming, snorkeling equipment, and a homemade lunch prepared on board; no sailing experience is required, and the hosts offer optional instruction on how the yacht handles.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a sailing experience led by people who have lived on boats for two decades and still love meeting travelers—the small group size and the hosts' knowledge of the bay make it personal rather than a standard tour. Private departures are available on request if you want the yacht to yourself.
Cape Reinga Half-Day Tour: Scenic Flight & Driving TourA half-day tour of Cape Reinga on New Zealand's North Island combining a scenic flight over Ninety Mile Beach with a 2.5-hour guided driving tour; hotel pickup from Paihia hotels is included. The flight lands at an airstrip near the lighthouse, and the driving portion stops at Tapotupotu Bay for refreshments. All departures depend on weather, and winter landings at Cape Reinga may be replaced with an extended scenic flight if conditions prevent it.Is it for me?Book this for a first morning or a free afternoon when you want to see the tip of the North Island without spending a full day driving—the flight cuts the travel time and the landing near the lighthouse puts you at the two seas meeting without the long drive from the Bay of Islands.
Bay of Islands: V8 Trike Ride to Opua, Haruru Falls & LookoutYou’ll buckle into a V8 trike in Paihia and ride out with your local guide through Opua marina village, past Haruru Falls’ misty spray, and up to Waitangi Lookout for those wide-open Bay of Islands views. Expect salty air, friendly locals waving you by, and a bit of an adrenaline rush that lingers longer than you’d think.
Helicopter tours in Paihia: Land on Hole in the RockYou board a helicopter in Paihia and fly over the Bay of Islands' main islands, viewing the Hole in the Rock arch at Cape Brett, Russell, and the Waitangi Treaty grounds. The pilot provides commentary throughout. You have the option to land on top of the Hole in the Rock itself. The flight requires a minimum of two passengers and departs at a time you request when booking.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Bay of Islands' full geography and the Hole in the Rock from a perspective that ground-level tours can't offer — the helicopter does the traveling, so you only need to show up and look.
Bay of Islands: Tall Ship Sundowner Sail & Ferry TransferYou’ll feel that first rush of sea air as soon as you step onto the tall ship in Bay of Islands — maybe even try your hand at hauling ropes or steering if you’re game. There’s finger food passed around, laughter with locals and travelers alike, and a golden hour ferry ride back to Russell that feels like part of the adventure itself.
Hole in the Rock Cruise & Bay of Islands Tour: 144 IslandsA 3-hour scenic boat cruise from Paihia through the Bay of Islands, visiting the Hole in the Rock geological formation at Cape Brett and stopping on Roberton Island for a short walk to panoramic viewpoints. The tour includes live guide commentary, wildlife spotting, and cruising among 144 subtropical islands in a group of no more than 49 passengers. The Hole in the Rock section is weather dependent; if conditions don't allow, the boat takes an alternative route through the sheltered inner islands instead.Is it for me?Most Bay of Islands tours either stick to the sheltered inner islands or demand a full day and a car. This one reaches the Hole in the Rock and a remote island in three hours from the Paihia wharf, so you get both the open-water geology and the island walk without the time commitment or the logistics.
Bay of Islands Cruise & Snorkel: Hole in the Rock & Twin LagoonsA 4.5-hour cruise through the Bay of Islands from Paihia that stops at Roberton Island for a walk to the Twin Lagoons lookout, then heads out to the Hole in the Rock and Cape Brett Lighthouse before a second island stop for snorkelling and swimming. The boat carries smaller groups, a live English-speaking guide provides commentary on history, ecology and Maori culture throughout, and snorkelling gear is included. Weather can affect whether the boat actually sails through the Hole in the Rock; if conditions are unsuitable, the route stays within the shelter of the inner islands instead.Is it for me?Choose the Paihia departure if you're staying on the north side of the Bay; the Russell departure works better if you're based across the water. Either way, smaller groups mean the guide's commentary stays personal and you're not competing for space at the lookout or in the water.
Bay of Islands: Parasailing Flight 1300ft & Scenic Boat RideYou’ll feel your heart race as you lift off for New Zealand’s highest parasailing flight over Bay of Islands — with wild views toward Russell and Hole in the Rock. Tandem or triple flights mean sharing those laughs (and nerves) with friends while a local guide keeps things lighthearted and safe. Includes all gear plus a scenic boat ride before you touch back down.
Māori Cultural Experience & Hāngī Dinner: Waitangi Treaty GroundsThis Māori cultural experience at Waitangi Treaty Grounds combines an evening of live entertainment, a guided bush walk with a traditional warrior challenge, and a buffet hāngī dinner cooked underground. Your combo pass grants two consecutive days of daytime access to the Treaty Grounds, two award-winning museums, a guided tour, and cultural performances. A complimentary drink on arrival and all activities are included; inform the operator of dietary needs and preferred daytime tour times when booking.Is it for me?The evening experience runs from 5pm onward, which leaves your daytime free to explore the Treaty Grounds, museums and heritage buildings at your own pace before the hāngī and performance begin. If you want both the daytime cultural immersion and the evening's earth-oven dinner and live performance in a single visit, book the daytime tour and performance when you reserve this experience.
Lowest price (6)
Bay of Islands: Evening sailing cruise with swim stopYou’ll board straight from Paihia beach for an evening sailing cruise through the Bay of Islands, guided by locals who know every inlet. Swim off the catamaran in sheltered waters, sip a complimentary drink as dusk settles in, and catch those shifting colors you’ll remember long after the trip.
Kayaking & Paddleboarding in Bay of Islands: WaterfallKayak or paddleboard through the Bay of Islands to a waterfall where water meets ocean, guided by a local who knows the mangrove channels and the sea bird colonies nesting overhead. No prior experience is required; a safety vessel stays with the group the whole time, and anyone who needs a rest can sit it out in comfort. Children from age 5 are welcome when accompanied by an adult.Is it for me?At two and a half hours, this fits into a free afternoon without eating up the whole day. The safety boat means anyone less confident on the water can rest without slowing the group, so families with mixed paddling abilities can go together without compromise.
Bay of Islands: V8 Trike Ride to Haruru Falls & LookoutYou’ll feel the wind rush past as you ride a V8 trike from Paihia out to Haruru Falls with a local driver who knows every curve in the road. Snap photos at Waitangi lookout, laugh with your group, and catch those small moments of quiet above the Bay of Islands. It’s quick but leaves an impression long after.
Kawiti Glow Worm Cave Tour & Opua Forest Walk: Bay of IslandsA 4-hour guided tour of the Bay of Islands visiting Kawiti Glow Worm Caves, the Hundertwasser Toilets and Opua Forest, departing from Waitangi wharf on cruise ship days or Paihia I-site on other days. A Maori guide from the family who has owned the caves for over 400 years leads you through a 200-metre limestone cavern on a wooden boardwalk, then a 30-minute forest walk past kauri trees over 1,000 years old. Cave entry is included, and the operator guarantees return to your tender in time.Is it for me?Most Bay of Islands tours either rush through the caves or skip the forest entirely. This one holds both—glow worms and ancient kauri trees in the same morning—because the 4-hour window and fixed schedule mean the guide can linger at each stop instead of watching the clock.
Cape Reinga & 90 Mile Beach tour from Paihia: Lighthouse walkA full-day guided tour from Paihia to Cape Reinga, 90 Mile Beach, Te Paki Stream and Mangonui, with a knowledgeable tour leader, air-conditioned vehicle and lunch stop included. The tour takes 11 hours and carries a maximum of 11 passengers. Children from age 11 are welcome, and pickup from your Paihia accommodation is included.Is it for me?At 11 hours, this tour fills most of a day and leaves the rest of your schedule open for other activities in the Bay of Islands or a return to your accommodation. The fixed itinerary and included transport mean you're not arranging the route or managing multiple stops — the day is built for you, and the small group size keeps the pace manageable for all fitness levels.
Kerikeri historic tour Stone Store Mission Station with lunchA guided tour of Kerikeri's historic Mission Station, established in 1819, takes you through the Stone Store (1832, New Zealand's oldest stone building) and Kemp House (1821, the oldest wooden building), followed by Makana Chocolate Factory, Rainbow Falls and lunch with a glass of local wine at the Plough & Feather pub. The tour runs approximately 3 to 4 hours and includes transport by air-conditioned minivan, all entrance fees, lunch and beverages. A live English-speaking guide leads the group, and hotel pickup is included; children from age 13 are welcome.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a guide who speaks English throughout a 4-hour walk through New Zealand's oldest stone and wooden buildings—the Kerikeri Stone Store and Mission Station—rather than reading plaques on your own.
