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You will find us on the beach at Paihia. We won’t be hard to find once you get there, just walk along the beach and you will see the boat anchored very close to the shoreline. If you’re not sure, search Google Maps for Barefoot Sailing Adventures and you will easily find us. The crew will be on board getting it ready for our sailing adventures so give them a wave and have a seat on a bench or a nice sandy spot on the beach, they will hop off to meet you on the beach when the boat is ready to board.
Just the usual – bottle of water, warm clothing, a jacket, footwear for island walks, swimwear, towel, hat, sunglasses and sunblock – please do not spray sunblock, it eats the paint.
Please do bring clothing that you can cover up with, the summer sun can be intense on your skin so be prepared for this as much as the possibility of cool wind.
No, the boat sits flat while sailing which means it is a very comfortable experience, especially for first-time sailors or families with children.
Yes we do. We use the motor to get in and out of the beach to anchor. We just love sailing! So we like to sail as much as possible, the boat performs far better under sail than under motor so sailing it is! There are times where if there is not enough wind to reach our destination we will have to use the engine, or to keep to our time schedule – we don’t like to make anyone late to catch their ferry/bus.
New Zealand can be tricky to plan for with the weather, particularly when choosing outdoor activities, so to be realistic you just have to be prepared for anything.
We do try our best and are very vigilant when it comes to weather forecasting.
Safety is always our foremost concern, then comfort. We are generally not too bothered by a rain shower here or there. It is an open boat, so we have rain ponchos to cover up and stay warm/dry, or you can pop down into the cabins if you want. If the forecast looks like a serious day of rain which will make the trip an absolute misery we will cancel/postpone, as we would like our guests to have a good experience.
The skipper is experienced to make decisions based on the weather, and the final decision will be his (keeping in mind that we are reliant on the information that is given to us, we can’t promise the forecast will be correct). If we decide to cancel a full refund will be given if we can’t make alternative arrangements for another day that suits your travel plans.
We understand that everyone has a different level of comfort when it comes to the weather, and we do our best to make everyone as comfortable as we possibly can. Sometimes people are not used to the wind, the sea state, salty splashes, or a bit of rain, or even the sunshine. But as Kiwis, this is all part of our lifestyle, and it is how New Zealand has become so well known for its adventure tourism because we are so good at it!
Yes we have a marine toilet on board, the islands we visit do not have toilet facilities.
No, our boats are not licensed for bareboat charter, all of our cruises are skippered by New Zealand certified professional captains. There are private charter options available if you would like to be hands on with the sailing, you can do so with the guidance of the skipper.
Our Island Hopper Day Sailing Cruise ventures to the eastern Bay of Islands. This area is home to a special group of seven islands that serve as a protected sanctuary for many of our endangered wildlife species.
The Hole in the Rock is at the outer peninsula of the Bay of Islands. To get there, a larger passenger type ferry boat ride is required (due to the distance and sea state) and is a different experience altogether. The focus is more on providing a scenic boat ride which caters for groups of up to 200 passengers.
In contrast, our Island Hopper Cruise is a small group tour of up to 20 people centered around the sailing experience in more sheltered waters with protection provided by the many islands in the area. It includes a two-hour stopover on an island. During this time, you can enjoy activities such as snorkeling, paddleboarding, hiking, a picnic lunch, and of course the native birdlife.
The sailing cruise has a longer duration than the Hole in the Rock tours, with the sailing being a big part of the experience itself, and smaller groups for a more personalised feel. We have the longest duration of island time available on any scheduled cruise in the Bay of Islands, and a great value ticket price which includes lunch and all optional activities.
This is not your cookie cutter boat tour. In other words, book a sailing cruise with us!
Absolutely! But not too wet -you will have to step into the water to get onto the boat. Sometimes it is ankle or calf deep, other times a wave will roll in and it may be up to your knees. So kick your shoes off and roll up your trousers before you step aboard. Sometimes we get the odd wave splash on the boat, it’s all part of the fun!
Nope, just like the name suggests we are Barefoot Sailing Adventurers!! Kick off your shoes at the shore and experience the Kiwi barefoot culture for yourself, it’s quite liberating!
Yes, our skipper loves to get people involved if they want to take the helm or help set the sails. There are some conditions or points of sail that it is not practical to have others helm the boat, but for the most part you are very welcome.
Yes we do see dolphins, not every day but they are there and if they happen to be where we are sailing it is a lovely experience to see them in their natural environment. We like to advise you that the resident dolphins in the Bay of Islands are very sensitive to human interaction, we do not encourage any interaction with them. As of 15 Dec 2021 the Department of Conservation has declared the Bay of Islands a Marine Mammal Sanctuary. This means if we encounter dolphins or other marine mammals there are rules which we must abide by: when within 300m of the vessel we must stop the boat (so long as it is safe to do so) until the marine mammals have moved away further than 300m. There is no swimming or water activities allowed within 300m of a marine mammal. This may cause some disruption to our planned cruise but we hope to keep the disruption as minimal as possible, we thank you for your understanding. If we happen to encounter a marine mammal on our sailing cruise, this is a completely natural encounter, it is very special and possibly the best way to experience dolphins as they can choose to interact on their own terms.
The seating is arranged on deck. There is a range of seating from bean bag seating to comfortable bench seating in the cockpits with the crew. There is no specific shade cover on the boat, however, you do get shade from the sails on different parts of the boat while we are sailing.
Cruise Ship Excursion bookings:
You may be able to book a ticket on the Lagoon Bay Cruise through your cruise ship company, depending on whether we have a charter agreement with them for the day your ship is in Port (solely dedicated to cruise ship passengers and only bookable via the cruise ship company). Your cruise ship will make arrangements and the tour will depart from the wharf where the tenders will bring you to shore. For 25/26 cruise season we have 30 ships booked, out of a total of 45 ships coming to the Bay of Islands.
Private Charter Direct Bookings:
A Private Charter exclusively for your group may be a good option when your ship is in the Bay of Islands. This is bookable directly with Barefoot Sailing Adventures. Please see the option in our Private Charters page on our website for options, you should be able to see availability in the booking calendar, or contact us directly. Please advise date, ship and your group numbers for us to give you the best advice on our availability.
The Lagoon Bay Cruise Private Charter is the best option on cruise ship days. The Island Hopper Cruise may be an option if your ship is in Port for a longer duration of 10 hours. You will need to make allowances for reasonable time to get from the ship to our departure point at Paihia Beach. This involves getting tender from the cruise ship to the Waitangi wharf, catching a shuttle bus from the Waitangi wharf to downtown Paihia, and then it is a 5 min walk from there to meet the Barefoot Sailing Adventures catamaran at the beach. Booking a priority tender from the ship will ensure you are not held up in queues to get ashore. This all sounds like a lot of logistics, however it is a fairly straightforward process and the shuttle bus is a very reliable free service.
Scheduled Tours:
Our regular scheduled Island Hopper Day Cruise where you can purchase a ticket to join a shared cruise is generally too long in duration, or the departure/return times may not align to suit the cruise ship schedules. Our departure and return times are set (10am – 4pm) as it is a public cruise – NOT solely dedicated to cruise ship passengers. Ship schedules are notorious for changes in arrival & departure times, which may cause cancellation of your booking. On the odd occasion a ship may have a long port duration of 10 hours, which may be suitable for the Island Hopper Cruise. Logistics to get from the tender terminal at Waitangi wharf to downtown Paihia are stated above in Private Charter Direct Bookings information.
Normal terms and conditions and cancellation policy apply when booking directly with Barefoot Sailing Adventures and are strictly enforced.
We recommend our guests hold a comprehensive travel insurance policy in case of any unexpected changes in their travel plans that may incur a cancellation fee.
Risk Disclosure Statement – Barefoot Sailing Adventures
We are committed to delivering a safe and enjoyable experience. We take all care to ensure your safety, however there are inherent risks in the nature of our activity. To ensure your safety, you must follow the instructions of our time, act in a safe manner, be physically capable of undertaking any activity you partake in, and not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The following risks may result in serious injury or death:
Boarding and disembarking – slips, trips, falls, crushing.
Sailing equipment – impact injury from moving parts, entanglement.
Changing weather conditions – sea state, moving vessel, exposure to the elements wind cold rain sun heat, unforeseen events. Natural hazards.
Water activities – swimming snorkeling paddle boarding, encounters with marine creatures, cuts & grazes, missing person, person adrift, drowning.
Island walks – uneven terrain, slips & trips, cliffs & steep drop offs, getting lost.
Chemicals – poisoning, burns.
Remote location – medical facilities and immediate access to medical care are limited and may be significantly distant.
Vessel Emergencies – Person overboard, vessel grounding, steering, loss of engine power, fire, abandon ship, encounters with marine mammals.
Natural Hazards – Tsunami, waterspout, wildfire.
Personal Property – risk to personal property being damaged.
By participating, you signify your acknowledgment and acceptance of these inherent risks, and agree to conduct yourself in a safe manner.
Your safety and enjoyment are our priority, and we appreciate your cooperation ensuring a safe experience. You agree to inform all others in your party of the above risks.
