Sailing Tours With Snorkeling Included: What to Expect
Last Updated: October 26, 2026
Quick Summary
Sailing tours with snorkeling included combine time under sail with a sheltered island stopover where you can snorkel, paddleboard and swim. At Barefoot Sailing Adventures, our Island Hopper Day Cruise includes snorkeling gear, paddleboards, walks on the island tracks and lunch, with a two-hour island stopover and a maximum of 20 guests.
- Our catamarans are 10m and 12m Tennant designs, hand built in New Zealand.
- The Island Hopper runs two hours sailing, two hours ashore, two hours sailing home. 6hrs total
- The two-hour stopover is the longest island time on any scheduled Bay of Islands cruise.
- Snorkel spots stay calm because the islands shelter them from open swell.
- We don’t follow dolphins or swim with them, letting them come to us.
Table of Contents
- Why Sailing Tours With Snorkeling Included Beat a Standard Boat Ride
- Bay of Islands Snorkelling: What You’ll See Under the Surface
- A Small-Group Sailing Tour That Actually Lets You Snorkel
- Your Island Day Cruise With Lunch and a Two-Hour Stopover
- Dolphin Watching Bay of Islands: Our Approach to Wildlife
- How This Sailing Cruise Differs From Hole in the Rock Tours
- Boarding, What to Bring and Who It Suits
- Book Your Island Hopper Day Sailing Cruise
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Sailing Tours With Snorkeling Included Beat a Standard Boat Ride
Most boat trips show you the Bay of Islands through a window. Sailing tours with snorkeling included drop you straight into it. At Barefoot Sailing, we’ve watched guests step off a ferry looking at their watches and step off our catamaran grinning from ear to ear, and the difference comes down to three things: the boat, the pace, and the size of the group.
A sailing tour is a day on the water under sail, with time built in to swim, snorkel and explore an island ashore. That’s a different animal from a passenger ferry run to a famous rock and back.
Sailing, Not Just Motoring
Our catamarans were chosen because they sail. Kopioko is a 10m Tennant Turrissimo with a sports cruising design that sailors genuinely enjoy, and Moonwalker is a 12m Tennant Jayar that has proven itself as a world cruiser. Both were hand built here in New Zealand and are well known in the multihull sailing community.
We use the engine only when we need to keep time. The rest of the day belongs to the sails.
Small Numbers, Big Difference
Twenty people maximum. That’s it. You’re not queued, counted or herded, and the crew can actually get to know you. If you want to take the helm, say so. We’d love to show you a thing or two about sailing. Or maybe you could show us 🙂
Bay of Islands Snorkelling: What You’ll See Under the Surface
The Bay of Islands snorkelling experience starts with sheltered water. Our island group sits inside the protection of the islands, so the snorkel spots stay calm when the outer coast is choppy. That shelter is the whole reason snorkelling works well here on a sailing day, you’re not exposed to the open swell, and the water over the reef is clear enough to actually see what you’re swimming over.
What the reef looks like
Expect a mixture of sandy bottom, rocky reef, seaweed, and sea grass meadows in the shallows, with reef fish darting through the gaps. The bottom slopes away gently from the beach, so you can snorkel in waist-deep water or push out a little further depending on your confidence. It’s not a coral reef, this is temperate water, but the seaweed and rocky structure make for a genuinely different snorkel to anything tropical, and the marine life is all the more special for it.
When visibility is best
A common pattern in the bay is that the clearest water comes on calmer days and in the calmer months, when there’s less swell stirring up the shallows. Summer water is warmer and generally more inviting for a long snorkel; outside summer you’ll want to be a bit more brisk about getting in and out. We can’t promise a specific visibility on any given day, that’s the nature of the sea, but the sheltered island spots give us the best chance of good conditions, and the crew will tell you honestly on the day where the clearest water is.
Why the sanctuary matters below the waterline
The seven islands we visit form a predator-free sanctuary cared for through Project Island Song, a conservation initiative we’re proud to support with part of every ticket. That protection is mostly about the land and the birds, but a healthy island ecosystem and healthy surrounding water go hand in hand, and it’s part of why the marine life here feels a little more alive than your average harbour. Every person who joins a day cruise that visits the islands is contributing to that work, we also put our time and the boats towards volunteer projects, species translocation days and monitoring.
A Small-Group Sailing Tour That Actually Lets You Snorkel
Plenty of operators mention snorkeling. Fewer build the day around it. Our Island Hopper Day Cruise gives you a full two hours ashore, which is enough time to snorkel, paddleboard, hike and still eat lunch without stressing about the clock. Because the groups are capped at 20, the experience is more relaxed. All activities are optional, so you can do it all, or do nothing more than kick back at the beach if that’s what you choose. It’s about going at your own pace rather than keeping up with the crowd.
Gear, instruction and safety on the day
Snorkeling gear and paddleboards are provided for your use, and the crew will run you through the basics before you get in the water: where is safe to go, what you might see, what water temperature is. We don’t guide the activities so you have the freedom to enjoy snorkeling or paddleboarding at your own pace, in your own space (so no fins in the face from a big group you can’t get away from!)
There’s no pressure to get in at all. If you’re unsure whether snorkelling suits you, ask us before you book and we’ll give you a straight answer.
How the two-hour stopover actually works
The stopover is the longest island time on any scheduled cruise in the Bay of Islands, and it’s structured so you’re not rushed. The crew will point out the best snorkel line from the beach, get the gear out, and then you’re free to snorkel, paddleboard, walk the bush track or just sit on the sand. Lunch is included, along with all the optional activities, so there are no add-on costs waiting for you on the beach.
A small group of guests snorkeling and paddleboarding in clear sheltered water near a sandy island beach, with a white sailing catamaran anchored close by and native bush in the background
Your Island Day Cruise With Lunch and a Two-Hour Stopover
The island day cruise with lunch runs on a simple rhythm: two hours sailing, two hours ashore, two hours sailing home. Lunch is included, along with all the optional activities, so there are no add-on costs waiting for you on the beach.
That stopover is the longest island time on any scheduled cruise in the Bay of Islands. Use it for a bush walk, a swim, or a flat patch of sand and a sandwich. The native birdlife is often the highlight, and you’ll hear it before you see it.
Dolphin Watching Bay of Islands: Our Approach to Wildlife
Yes, we often see dolphins. Not every day, because they’re wild animals doing their own thing, but when they’re around it’s magic.
The Bay of Islands is a Marine Mammal Sanctuary, and the resident dolphins are sensitive to boat interaction (Proposed amendment to Te Pēwhairangi (Bay of Islands) Marine Mammal Sanctuary rules). We don’t follow them and we don’t swim with them. We let them come to us, or not. You can read more about the rules that guide this on the Bay of Islands Marine Mammal Sanctuary page. It’s a stance some guests ask about, and we’re happy to explain it. Watching a dolphin be a dolphin beats chasing one every time.
How This Sailing Cruise Differs From Hole in the Rock Tours
The Hole in the Rock sits at the outer peninsula, and reaching it means a larger passenger ferry built for groups of up to 200. It’s a scenic boat ride, and a good one, but it’s an entirely different experience.
Our Island Hopper stays in the sheltered eastern bay, sailing between the islands with a small group. Longer duration, more sailing, more island time, lunch and activities included. If you want the rock, take the ferry. If you want to sail, come with us.
Boarding, What to Bring and Who It Suits
You’ll find us on the beach at Paihia, boat anchored close to the shoreline. Search Google Maps for Barefoot Sailing Adventures and you’ll spot us. Have a seat on the sand and the crew will come and meet you when we’re ready.
Boarding is from the beach, so you’ll step into shallow water and up a ladder. You need to be steady on your feet. In some conditions we use a dinghy instead. If you’re unsure whether it suits you, contact us before booking.
Children are welcome, lifejackets come in all sizes, and around four and up tends to work well. Nervous parents, bring one confident one. For the full run-down, see our frequently asked questions, and for what to wear, read our guide to what to wear on the water.
|
Question |
Quick answer |
|---|---|
|
Where do we meet? |
Beach at Paihia, boat close to shore |
|
How do we board? |
From the beach, via ladder or dinghy |
|
Shoes? |
Off at the shore, barefoot on board |
|
Will I get wet? |
Yes, ankle to knee deep at boarding |
|
Kids? |
All ages welcome, lifejackets provided, 4+ ideal |
|
Snorkeling? |
Gear included |
|
Lunch? |
Included, plus morning tea, plus all optional activities |
|
Group size? |
Up to 20 guests |
Book Your Island Hopper Day Sailing Cruise
We still get a kick out of every departure. The water’s warm, the islands are waiting, and the sails are up.
Get started with Barefoot Sailing and spend a day under sail, snorkeling a predator-free sanctuary and eating lunch on an island beach. Check availability for the Island Hopper, or ask us about a private charter if you’ve got a group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in sailing tours with snorkeling included?
Check that snorkeling gear is provided and that the tour actually stops somewhere sheltered enough to get in the water. Look for a small group size, a decent island stopover rather than a quick dip, and a skipper who sails rather than just motors. Ask how long you get ashore, what else is included like paddleboarding or lunch, and whether the operators support local conservation. Sailing tours that visit the protected islands give you calm water and a real reason to be there.
Can beginners snorkel on a sailing tour?
Yes. Most people who snorkel off our catamaran have never done it before. The island stopover happens in sheltered water protected by the islands, so conditions are usually calm. The crew will run you through the basics for safety, and you can stay in the shallows near the beach if you would rather take it easy. If you are not a confident swimmer, let us know before you book and we will chat through what the day looks like, there are plenty of other ways to spend your time at the island if you decide it’s not for you.
Do sailing tours provide snorkeling equipment?
Ours does. Snorkeling gear is included in the ticket along with paddleboarding and lunch, so you do not need to bring your own mask or fins. Bring a towel, togs and sunscreen. If you have your own mask that fits well, bring it along, but it is not necessary. Worth noting: you board from the beach at Paihia, so you will get your feet wet before you even step on the boat.
Will we see dolphins on a Bay of Islands sailing cruise?
We do see dolphins, though not every day, because they are wild and go where they please. The Bay of Islands is a Marine Mammal Sanctuary, so we do not follow them, chase them or swim with them. If they happen to be where we are sailing we’ll stop and let the dolphins choose what they want to do, it is a lovely thing to watch them play around the boat. We would rather leave them to be dolphins in the wild, and we ask guests to enjoy the encounter from a respectful distance.