Day Cruise & Island Tour - Snorkel/Wildlife/Paddleboard/Islands
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Bay of Islands Half Day Cruise & Island Tour.
Escape the crowds and discover the Bay of Islands!
Locally owned and operated, with a passion for sharing our beautiful area.
Suitable for all ages, families, solo travellers and couples...experience it all!
• Two remote island stopovers
• Native bush walks and 360 degree views from the island lookout points
• Snorkel unfrequented island reefs
• Try stand-up paddle boarding
• Lookout for unique wildlife throughout the day
• Interactive commentary and information
• Scenic cruising among 144 subtropical islandsThere's no better way to spend the day....join us for a 3.5hr Cruise and Island Tour
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Suitable for families, couples and solo travellers
Suitable for all ages
Please bring a swimsuit & towel
Minimum passenger numbers apply; if not met, we reserve the right to upgrade to our 4.5hr Tour (at no extra cost) or refund your tickets
Water and something to eat is recommended.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Check in at Pier 10, on the Paihia wharf 15 minutes before your departure time
Bay of Islands
This cruise and Island Tour promises an unforgettable experience, with highlights including 2 island stopovers (the enchanting Roberton Island) and a second location determined on the day where guests can make use of our water activities such as paddle boarding and snorkelling. Immerse yourself in the beauty of this pristine marine playground as you explore secluded coves, witness rich marine life, and soak in the picturesque landscapes. A perfect blend of relaxation and adventure awaits on this Bay of Islands excursion.
What‘s Included
Small group tours
Stand-up Paddleboarding (all equipment provided)
A truly personalised, local experience
Swim, Snorkel and relax (all equipment provided)
Scenic Cruise among 144 Islands
Two remote island stopovers
Wildlife spotting, commentary and information throughout the day
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Options
Paihia Wharf Departure
Starting point:
Island Getaway Tours, 69 Marsden Road, Paihia 0200, New Zealand
Russell Wharf Departure
Starting point:
Russell Wharf, Russell, Bay of Islands, 27 The Strand, Russell 0202, New Zealand
Reviews
128 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
As good as it gets!
Benjamin W,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00As good as it gets! An awesome day with a nice small group, loved the island hopping, narrated tours, hiking, cafe lunch on the second island, hole in the rock. It was all wonderful, professional, fun, safe, and easy!
More wildlife
J7790JBdonnah,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00I would have liked more emphasis on finding wildlife and less on the island stopovers but understand this cannot be predicted. There were however a couple of missed opportunities in spotting birds. The islands are however beautiful and worth seeing.
Amazing Experience truly Exceptional Tour
Courtney W,Mar 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing day with Island Escapes- from meeting at the pier to the whole tour it was well organized, friendly staff and beautiful sites. We got a complimentary upgrade and enjoyed hole in the Rock. Staff were phenomenal with interacting with guests.
Great way to see the islands!
Kathryn W,Mar 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great morning exploring the islands. Easy to get to from cruise tender drop off with regular shuttle bus right into Pahia. The walk up to the look out was steep but well worth it and going through the hole in the rock a bonus. Friendly and attentive staff. Thanks for a great morning team!
A great morning
Sarah M,Mar 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a wonderful morning. Crew were brilliant and we stopped off in some wonderful places. We were able to see fish and birds feeding on Krill, sailed through the Hole in the Rock, enjoyed a swim and snorkeling.
Dolfintastic day
Marja L,Feb 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Sunshine, great tourguides, info, time to relax and hike, friendly people, good value, complete offer
Excellent. We had an upgrade from the shorter trip. This included the Hole in the Wall
citfancier,Feb 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent modern catamaran with 4 x 325 hp Suzuki . Boat well set up for easy access from bow ramp to beach. Hole in the Wall motored thru in perfect conditions. We have snorkeling a miss a low tide Feeding huge Snapper was impressive. Great Crew and Captain.
Awesome Tour!
Voyager43972,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a wonderful tour and even saw dolphins and a seal! <3 Crew (Bluebell, Blair and another young woman whose name I forgot) was very friendly and shared much information on the bay, the animals we saw, Māori history, etc. Would recommend! :)
It was a brilliant trip with a great Captain and crew.
Travellingfar2,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were reallocated to their bigger boat, which included the trip up to the Hole in the Rock. This is the only cruise company in the Bay of Islands that is approved by the ancestral owners of Motukokako/Piercy Island, also known as "The Hole In The Rock", to share the Māori history of “The Hole in the Rock”. It was fantastic. We visited a predator free island Motuarohia/Roberton (meaning “reconnoitered island”). We saw the Cape Brett Lighthouse, went through the Hole in the Rock, saw a huge Bull Fur Seal sunning on a bird sanctuary rock and Dolphins. During our stop at Urupukapuka Island we saw Stingrays and our granddaughter did some snorkeling and fish feeding. We had a fantastic time. The captain did a great commentary and the crew were delightful. We went through the Hole in the Rock and were lucky to see the Dolphins as that is going through the Rock is weather dependent and it's up to the Dolphins if they want to put in an appearance. You can order a picnic to take from the company, which I am sure would have be good. If you don't want to do that there is a cafe on Urupukapuka. We were gifted a picnic box from Picnic Box (based in Paihia - they have a website or, [email protected] 027 248 6556). It was fantastic and would recommend. One tip - take a warm jumper it can be cold when the boat hits speed. They do provide warm blankets if needed.
Beautiful Bay of Islands
Happiness251203,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fantastic day trip. We ventured out and got treated to viewing some dolphins. Headed to hole in the rock and did 2 trips through. Captain and crew were friendly and funny and thankfully came back to get us when we were a few minutes late getting back to the boat. Urupukapuka Island was gorgeous and we really enjoyed exploring the rock pool at Roberton Island. Would highly recommend this day tour.
From NZ$145.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by Island Getaway Tours