Typical Itinerary
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Day one highlights
- Shooting Competition
- 2 - 3 hrs cruising to the outer islands
- Dusk fishing for Snapper
- Buffet dinner on sunset
- Night Kayaking
- Star & Planet Talk
- Night Swimming
- Music, Bar and Log Fire
- Pool Competition
More time means you see, do and experience more!
Day One starts with Jonny and our crew meeting you at the Paihia Wharf at 5pm. After introductions, a safety brief and setting you up in your cabins we start the engines. With fishing lures set we cruise for a couple of hours while we pretty much have the Bay of Islands to ourselves. While cruising you will have the chance to compete for a free drink with fellow travelers in a shooting competition at a target that won’t sit still. Or just sit back, enjoy the scenery or maybe play on our free pool table. On almost every cruise we are blessed with the opportunity of seeing the largest & friendliest of the dolphin family, the bottlenose dolphins. We see them in a natural manner, either crossing our path while cruising or whilst at anchor. Our intention is not to harass or interfere with their lives & we treat their frequent and friendly visits as a great privilege.
Dusk fishing allows you the chance to experience the thrill of catching and releasing or eating your very own fish. In New Zealand fishing is one of our national past times. Fish bite best on dusk and we are fortunate enough to catch fish most evenings. After fishing a delicious and typical Kiwi BBQ dinner buffet is served, usually with fresh mussels and hopefully your seafood catch. (Vegetarians please let us know when booking.)For many the Night kayaking, is a cruise highlight. On dark nights a phosphorescence fireworks display of streaking fish light up the water like tracer bullets. On full moon evenings paddling under the millions of stars in the moonlight is almost equally as impressive. For the daring you can go night swimming in the phosphorescence where millions of lights radiate off your limbs as you swim, like "fairy dust".
If it’s your first night on the sea you’re in for a great experience. The Rock offer’s up a great “feel good” atmosphere. A fun night of laughs, good company, music, pool table competitions and exchanging stories around our cozy bar is always on offer. If you want a more romantic nautical mood with amazing views, sunsets, shooting stars, guitar music, the vessel is lit up with candles and you can relax around our open log fire. On the many clear nights our crew get a chance to use a laser pointer and impress you with their knowledge of New Zealand’s southern skies. Shooting stars and satellites are readily seen in a sky that is void of light pollution.
Day two highlights
- Sunrise and Breakfast
- Cruising and Exploring
- Sea kayaking in the clear island waters
- Snorkeling and Mussel diving
- Island walks
- Beachcombing, cricket, rugby
- Natural experiences, rare sea birds, schooling fish, penguins, dolphins
New Zealand Adventures
Sunrise at sea is spectacular, can be seen from the comfort of your bed and is a great way to start Day Two. At 8am we ring the breakfast bell and a traditional New Zealand breakfast of hot oats, fruits, cereals, tea and coffee is served. Our second day’s plan takes us exploring further through the islands. We choose locations of historic and cultural significance, awesome scenery and clear lagoons. From these locations you can kayak, snorkel, gather fresh sea food, explore WWII remains, and trek across islands and visit ancient Maori fortifications.
If the sea conditions are safe we snorkel on an outer island reef which is abundant in green lip mussels. Here the fish have become very trusting and you can feed them by hand with mussels you have collected. Later we steam these mussels up and eat them as we cruise home. Our snorkeling locations usually offer clear water with deep drop offs in lush subtropical kelp gardens. We often see rays, moray eels, octopus and Crayfish.
Paddle a kayak in the clear blue water along remote coastline, giant sea caves and secluded beaches. (Beginners we would love to teach you!) Our island strolls take us to the most scenic view points You can choose to relax on the islands, or if you’re feeling more energetic might find time for a game of beach soccer or an international cricket match. When cruising home we give you the chance to taste the mussels and sea urchins we’ve collected both raw and cooked, a delicacy in some countries! On the trip home we keep our eyes peeled for ‘working birds’ as these diving sea birds indicate fish are in a feeding frenzy and easily caught by our lures. We return home at approximately 3pm.
