Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands
Overview
Available languages
5 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
We only take 10 guests and offer a unique personal experience with 20 years taking guests on our beautiful live-aboard yacht and we still love it!! Private tours are also available on request.
We share our passion for what we do and love meeting people from all over the world and sharing stories from our travels and lifestyle.
We have sailed to many countries on many different boats, so come along and hear the tales of adventures far and wide.
We raised our son on the boat while sailing from the Caribbean and throughout the South Pacific and New Zealand for many years.
Twenty three years of loving and enjoying sailing with new friends from all over the globe!
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
With a maximum of 10 guests on board you will feel personally looked after and away from the crowds. We sail through the beautiful Bay of Islands to an island stop where guests can go ashore for a hour to hike for incredible views of the bay and the 144 islands. Swim, snorkel or just relax on board while we prepare a fabulous home-made lunch. Enjoy beautiful scenery, beautiful beaches, friendly atmosphere and great conversation then enjoy a great afternoon sail back to Russell all while learning the history of the Bay from a local New Zealander. You hosts, Rick and Robin, share their knowledge of the area and passion for sailing and are happy to give any sailing instruction and show how their fantastic yacht handles. Phantom has a very special pedigree and no sailing experience is necessary for coming aboard! We will see native sea birds - penguins, gannets, shearwaters and may get a lucky visit form the local dolphins of the occasional orca.
What‘s Included
Use of Snorkelling equipment
Options
Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands
Reviews
183 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An Outstanding Day on the Water
KarenMTravel,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Rick and Robin are warm and welcoming and they gave us a perfect day on their boat. There are other tours but this one has a small group, personal conversations about sailing and the history of the Bay of islands. The homemade lunch was delicious. We loved sailing to the island and we anchored in the sheltered bay. Rick took us to the beach in a small boat and we climbed to the top of the hill. There were signposts telling the history of Captain Cook as he first met with the Maori people. At the top, the view told us why Captain Cook named it the Bay of Islands. We decided to swim back to the ship and Rick took our towels and bag. We met interesting young students and loved hearing their stories about studying English in New Zealand. We have visited from Canada for 10 weeks and this is the highlight of our trip. Highly recommended!
Great day’s sailing
MDH19VS,Mar 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a fantastic day out with charming hosts, Rick and Robin. They are experienced sailors and even if you’ve never been sailing before you will have a safe and exhilarating experience. They are keen to put the sails up not just motor.
Perfect sailing trip in the Bay of Islands
jennifern745,Mar 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wow! This was the best thing we did in the north island! Rick and Robin were excellent hosts full of local information and history, helpful advice and good cheer! The boat was beautiful and we felt very safe on her. The sailing was incredible, both Robin and Rick are very experienced sailors and have raced around the world. The lunch was lovely, the other shipmates great company and we stopped at a beautiful, bay for a swim in the crystal clear water and a sunbathe on the beautiful beach. We couldn’t recommend this trip more highly!
A wonderful sailing trip in the bay of islands
Studio46,Feb 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A superb experience. I know we were lucky and had wonderful sunny sailing weather but that’s not really the point, Rick and Robin treated us (and the others on board) like invited guests on their yacht rather than paying tourists. A lovely few hours with nice people, outstanding scenery, and an excellent lunch, plus a swim and a walk up to the view point above Cook’s landing. Highly recommend.
Sailing and culinary highlight in the bay of islands
GunterL32,Feb 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Super sailing day on the fast former regatta yacht with Rick as an experienced helmsman and Robin as a supporter in all matters - especially the exceptionally delicious cold buffet with homemade delicacies should be mentioned here. Thanks for the great day - we can only recommend to every sailing and water lover! Timely registration recommended. as the maximum 10 places are quickly booked up.
wonderful hosts and incredible scenery
Gardengirl61,Feb 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This sailing adventure was a highlight of our trip to New Zealand! Rick and Robin were wonderful hosts on this beautiful tour of the Bay of Islands. They were both very engaging and informative about the area and its history. We loved getting to stop at the viewpoint where we hiked to the top of the hill and could see the whole area. Robin prepared an amazing homemade lunch and we had a very special day with the group. Highly recommend this activity!!
Highlight of our Bay of Islands visit
dianad641,Jan 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent sailing experience in the Bay of Islands This was one of the highlights of our visit to the Bay of Islands. Captain Rick and First Mate Robin run a professional, friendly, and well-organised operation. The safety briefing was clear, and it was obvious from the outset that the yacht is very well maintained. The day was perfectly paced, with relaxed sailing, informative local commentary, a stop near a beautiful island beach, and time ashore to explore. Lunch on board was fresh, generous, and far better than expected for a day sail. On the return leg the wind picked up and we enjoyed some proper sailing, which was a real highlight. Nothing felt rushed or overly touristy. Highly recommended.
Fabulous sailing trip. Highly recommend
Charles M,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a superb experience with Rick and Robin. We really enjoyed the sail out to a lovely beach for a lunch stop and were sad to get off at the end. A proper racing yacht with great stories so it's nice to sail rather than just motor along. Would definitely recommend. Rick and Robin really supported us kindly as one of us has mobility issues.
Phenomenal Phantom Sailing
Travelingyees,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a phenomenal experience with Phantom Sailing. Rick and Robin (and as a bonus, their daughter) were a delightful team, sharing insights on the area and making it an enjoyable trip for everyone. We'd sail with them again in a minute!
Authentic tour of the Bay of Islands
cathb824,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Robyn and Rick are very experienced sailers and shared their boat with us for the day. It didn't feel like a tour as such because it was very personal and we were a very small group. They shared their knowledge of the Bay of Islands and sailing stories over the years. The homemade lunch was beautifully prepared for us. When the wind picked up it was an exciting sail back into the bay! If you like your water tours small, personal and authentic look no further. Thanks again Robyn and Rick.
From NZ$195.00
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