Bay of Islands and Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand / 300nm / 11 - 22 feb 2025
12 days / cat 3 sailing expedition / EVENT #2509 / TE KAIHŌPARA: CREW POSITIONs AVAILABLE
Overview
The Category 3 cruise combines the stunning Bay of Islands and the wider Hauraki Gulf for a fortnight of exploration and adventure. It starts in the heart of the Bay of Islands, treks as far east as Great Barrier Island and Great Mercury Island and finishes at The Gulf Harbour Marina in Auckland’s City of Sails.
This 300nm adventure includes stopovers we can select from more than 30 options and there’ll be new anchorages to discover every day. We‘ll review the weather before departing Opua and plan a unique route to Auckland, which will include overnight stops and exploration ashore multiple locations.
We will plan cruising stopovers at locations that take advantage of the prevailing weather and activities on offer. We’ll enjoy barbeques, fresh seafood, roast dinners and relax to take in the sunset in idyllic anchorages each night. We’ll complete the the cruise by sailing into the Gulf Harbour Marina in Auckland.
Passage plan
Event registration
Secure your place on this adventure with a 20-50% deposit / All prices in AUD
Current price release: Early Bird
Pre-release - SOLD OUT
SHARED CABIN: Early bird $3,750 pp
PRIVATE CABIN: $11,250 (includes 3 berths)
Final Release $7,250 pp
Expedition Description
Opua Marina
Opua Marina is a bustling hub in the Bay of Islands, known for its excellent facilities and vibrant atmosphere. As the gateway to the Bay of Islands, it offers a perfect starting point for sailors. The marina has a rich maritime history and is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Visitors can explore local shops, cafes, and the nearby Opua Forest, making it an ideal spot to begin your sailing adventure.
Roberton Island
Roberton Island, also known as Motuarohia Island, is famous for its twin lagoons and historical significance. It was one of the first places in New Zealand to be charted by Captain Cook. The island offers stunning snorkelling opportunities, clear waters, and fascinating historical sites. It's a perfect anchorage for those wanting to explore the natural beauty and rich history of the Bay of Islands.
Urupukapuka Island
Urupukapuka Island is the largest island in the Bay of Islands and a popular destination for its pristine beaches, walking trails, and archaeological sites. The island has a deep cultural history with ancient Maori pa sites scattered across its landscape. Its clear waters are ideal for swimming, kayaking, and snorkelling, making it a favourite stop for sailors seeking both adventure and relaxation.
Te Toroa Bay
Te Toroa Bay is a secluded and picturesque bay known for its tranquil environment and stunning natural beauty. The bay's clear waters and sandy beaches make it a perfect spot for swimming and picnicking. The surrounding native bush offers excellent walking tracks, providing a serene escape for those looking to connect with nature.
Whangamumu Harbour
Whangamumu Harbour is a hidden gem with a fascinating history as a former whaling station. Today, the remnants of the station can still be explored, offering a glimpse into the past. The harbour is surrounded by lush native bush and provides a peaceful anchorage with opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and exploring the historic site.
Whangaruru
Whangaruru is a picturesque harbour that offers safe anchorage and beautiful scenery. The harbour is surrounded by rolling hills and native bush, providing a tranquil setting for sailors. The area is rich in Maori history and offers excellent fishing and diving opportunities, making it a perfect destination for those looking to immerse themselves in the natural and cultural beauty of the region.
Tutukaka Harbour
Tutukaka Harbour is a renowned marina and gateway to the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. The harbour offers excellent facilities for sailors and is a popular starting point for diving excursions. The surrounding area boasts beautiful beaches, walking tracks, and a vibrant community, making it an ideal spot for both adventure and relaxation.
Whangarei Heads
Whangarei Heads is a stunning coastal area known for its dramatic landscapes and outdoor activities. The region offers excellent hiking, with tracks leading to breathtaking viewpoints and secluded beaches. The clear waters are perfect for swimming, snorkelling, and fishing, providing a diverse range of activities for sailors to enjoy.
Mokohinau Islands
The Mokohinau Islands are a remote and unspoiled group of islands known for their rugged beauty and rich marine life. The islands offer excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities, with clear waters and abundant marine species. The dramatic cliffs and scenic anchorages make the Mokohinau Islands a perfect destination for adventurous sailors.
Rakitu Island
Rakitu Island, also known as Arid Island, is a remote and rugged island offering stunning landscapes and excellent diving opportunities. The island's clear waters are home to diverse marine life, making it a haven for snorkellers and divers. Its secluded beaches and dramatic cliffs provide a picturesque and peaceful escape for sailors.
Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island is renowned for its natural beauty, with rugged landscapes, pristine beaches, and clear waters. The island offers a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and diving. Its remote location and unspoiled environment make it a perfect destination for those seeking adventure and tranquility.
Little Barrier Island
Little Barrier Island, also known as Hauturu, is a wildlife sanctuary with a rich biodiversity. The island is home to numerous endangered species and is a haven for birdwatchers. Access to the island is restricted to protect its delicate ecosystem, but sailing around its coastline offers stunning views and the chance to see rare wildlife in their natural habitat.
Omaha Cove
Omaha Cove is a peaceful anchorage known for its beautiful beaches and clear waters. The cove offers excellent swimming, snorkelling, and fishing opportunities, making it a popular spot for sailors. The surrounding area is home to native bush and scenic walking tracks, providing a tranquil and picturesque escape.
Kawau Island
Kawau Island is rich in history and natural beauty, with a range of attractions including the historic Mansion House and beautiful gardens. The island offers excellent walking tracks, stunning beaches, and sheltered anchorages. Its fascinating history and diverse natural environment make Kawau Island a must-visit destination for sailors.
Moturekareka Island
Moturekareka Island is known for its scenic beauty and the remains of the Rewa shipwreck, which lies just offshore. The island offers excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities, with clear waters and abundant marine life. Its secluded beaches and peaceful anchorages make it a perfect spot for a relaxing getaway.
Mahurangi Harbour
Mahurangi Harbour is a scenic and sheltered harbour known for its beautiful landscapes and tranquil waters. The harbour offers excellent anchorage and is surrounded by native bush and rolling hills. Its peaceful environment and natural beauty make it an ideal destination for sailors looking to unwind and explore.
Shakespeare Bay
Shakespeare Bay is a picturesque bay known for its stunning scenery and clear waters. The bay offers excellent swimming, snorkelling, and fishing opportunities, making it a popular spot for sailors. The surrounding area is home to beautiful beaches and scenic walking tracks, providing a serene and picturesque escape.
Tiritiri Matangi Island
Tiritiri Matangi Island is a wildlife sanctuary known for its successful conservation efforts and rich biodiversity. The island is home to numerous endangered species and offers excellent birdwatching opportunities. Its walking tracks and pristine beaches make it a perfect destination for nature lovers and sailors looking to explore New Zealand's unique wildlife.
Cooks Bay
Cooks Bay is a beautiful and tranquil bay known for its clear waters and stunning scenery. The bay offers excellent swimming, snorkelling, and fishing opportunities, making it a popular spot for sailors. The surrounding area is home to native bush and scenic walking tracks, providing a peaceful and picturesque escape.
Great Mercury Island
Great Mercury Island is known for its pristine beaches, clear waters, and stunning landscapes. The island offers excellent swimming, snorkelling, and diving opportunities, with abundant marine life and beautiful coral reefs. Its remote location and unspoiled environment make it a perfect destination for those seeking adventure and tranquility.
Kennedy Bay
Kennedy Bay is a picturesque bay known for its beautiful beaches and clear waters. The bay offers excellent swimming, snorkelling, and fishing opportunities, making it a popular spot for sailors. The surrounding area is home to native bush and scenic walking tracks, providing a peaceful and picturesque escape.
Elephant Cove
Elephant Cove is a hidden gem known for its stunning coastal scenery and clear waters. The cove offers excellent swimming, snorkelling, and fishing opportunities, making it a popular spot for sailors. The surrounding area is home to native bush and scenic walking tracks, providing a serene and picturesque escape.
Te Kouma Harbour
Te Kouma Harbour is a sheltered harbour known for its beautiful landscapes and tranquil waters. The harbour offers excellent anchorage and is surrounded by native bush and rolling hills. Its peaceful environment and natural beauty make it an ideal destination for sailors looking to unwind and explore.
Rotoroa Island
Rotoroa Island is a unique destination with a rich history as a former rehabilitation centre. The island has been transformed into a sanctuary with beautiful gardens, walking tracks, and pristine beaches. Its fascinating history and diverse natural environment make Rotoroa Island a must-visit destination for sailors.
Waiheke Island
Waiheke Island is renowned for its vineyards, stunning beaches, and vibrant arts scene. The island offers excellent swimming, snorkelling, and diving opportunities, with clear waters and abundant marine life. Its diverse attractions and beautiful landscapes make Waiheke Island a popular destination for sailors.
Motuihe Island
Motuihe Island is known for its beautiful beaches, clear waters, and rich history. The island offers excellent swimming, snorkelling, and walking tracks, with stunning views of the surrounding area. Its peaceful environment and historical significance make Motuihe Island a perfect destination for sailors.
Motutapu Island
Motutapu Island is rich in history and natural beauty, with a range of attractions including ancient Maori pa sites and beautiful beaches. The island offers excellent walking tracks, stunning views, and clear waters perfect for swimming and snorkelling. Its fascinating history and diverse natural environment make Motutapu Island a must-visit destination for sailors.
Rangitoto Island
Rangitoto Island is an iconic volcanic island known for its rugged landscape and stunning views. The island offers excellent hiking opportunities, with a track leading to the summit for panoramic views of the Hauraki Gulf. Its unique geological features and natural beauty make Rangitoto Island a captivating destination for sailors.
Auckland Harbour
Auckland Harbour, also known as the Waitemata Harbour, is the bustling heart of New Zealand's largest city. The harbour offers excellent facilities for sailors and is surrounded by vibrant waterfront areas, including the Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter. Its central location provides easy access to a range of attractions, from world-class dining and shopping to cultural sites and outdoor activities. Auckland Harbour's dynamic atmosphere and stunning scenery make it an ideal starting or ending point for any sailing adventure.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Click the links above to review examples from previous sailing events across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Here’s what you will experience onboard
Watch duties: Acting as watch captain (day and night), helming, navigating, checking weather and monitoring AIS and radar and for both traffic and rain squalls.
Weather: Downloading and analysing the latest weather forecasts and calculating best route to destination.
Navigation: Navigating, hazard identification, entering waypoints and calculating updated ETA’s.
Leadership: Watch roster planning, matching responsibility to experience, crew management and communication.
Safety: Familiarisation of all safety procedures, sail planning, storm preparation planning and abandon ship procedures.
Personal wellbeing: Advice on how to take responsibility for managing clothing, hydration, sleep and nutrition to maintain your health and well being aboard.
Passage planning: Planning our arrival and route to safe harbour including timing with daylight (if required), weather factors, navigational hazards, communications / customs and sail/motor arrival plan.
Click the links above to review examples from previous sailing events across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Weather impact
With any regatta or expedition we have to plan around the weather. We always aim to plan our events to coincide with the optimum time of the year, for the best conditions. Safety and comfort of the crew and vessel, always takes priority over the original schedule. Sometimes we’ll need to adapt the schedule and modify plans, to maximise the onboard experience and enjoyment to keep everyone happy and safe.
Extra reading
ADDITIONAL MEDIA
Check out photo gallery highlights from ocean passages.
itinerary
You can fly directly into Keri Keri Airport (a 30 minute car ride from Opua) in the Bay of Islands on the 11th of February 2025 to arrive at the Bay of Islands Marina before 4pm in time to get settled onboard Te Kaihōpara and join the crew welcome dinner. We will aim to depart the next morning, as soon as we complete the yacht familiarisation and safety training process and head for our first of our island anchorages. You are welcome to stay onboard on the night of the 11th, but if you plan to arrive prior to the 11th of February, you will need to arrange accommodation ashore.
Our plan is to sail into the The Gulf Harbour Marina in Auckland by 2pm on the 22nd of February and you can plan to depart out of Auckland Airport (a 30-45 minute car ride) the same day.
Arrive at the vessel in Opua by 4pm on 11/2/25
Crew welcome dinner on 11/2/25
Crew training and safety familiarisation 12/2/25
Depart Opua around 12pm on 12/2/25
Arrive in Auckland by 2pm on 22/2/25
Depart Auckland on 22/2/25
Getting to and from there
Arrival Airport: Keri Keri Airport
Departure Airport: Auckland International airport
Inclusions
Your crew package includes; all meals onboard, crew meals in Auckland and Opua, accommodation onboard, marina fees, the use of a PFD (personal floatation device), PLB (personal locator beacon), and a safety tether. Your bedding, a pillow and towel are also included along with suncream.
PRIVATE CABINS
There are two private cabins available on each leg and they include a double and single berth in each.
If you book a private cabin, you can have 1 , 2 or 3 occupants.
The price for a private cabin is the combined price of 3 berths, less 10%.
Exclusions
Your crew package excludes; accommodation ashore, flights and transport to and from departure and arrival ports, alcohol, toiletries, clothing and wet weather gear.
Its always recommended that you book flights with date flexibility incase of unforeseen changes due to weather or schedules. Accommodation options if you want to stay ashore either side of trip: AirBNB, Booking.com, Wotif & HomeAway.
Review sailing calendar for all events