Bay of Islands: Scenic Cruise & Island Stop

Discover the Bay of Islands: Cruise 144 islands, visit Hole in the Rock, spot marine wildlife, and explore Roberton Island. Perfect for all ages!

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Island Getaway Tours - Check-in at PIER 10 on the Paihia Wharf. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your departure time.
  • Motukokako Island / Piercy Island - Motu Kokako, commonly known as “the Hole in the Rock,” is a breathtaking natural rock formation situated in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. This remarkable geological marvel features a…
What's Included
  • Small group tours
  • Visit the Hole in the Rock
  • Scenic Cruise among 144 Islands
  • Stopover at Urupukapuka or Roberton Island
  • Short walk to the island lookout point
  • Feed the schools of Fish at our Voluntary Marine Reserve
  • Cape Brett Lighthouse and the Cape Brett Peninsular
  • Island stopover location is determined on the day, depending on the wind direction
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Hole in the Rock Cruise & Island Stopover
Escape the hustle and bustle and explore the Bay of Islands.
Proudly locally owned and operated, with a dedication to showcasing our stunning region.
Perfect for all ages, including families, solo adventurers, and couples…enjoy everything we offer!
• Sail among 144 Subtropical Islands
• Explore the Hole…

Location
Paihia Wharf
Check-in at Pier 10 on the Paihia Wharf at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(44 Ratings)
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Stephanie
Feb 1, 2026
A must do. Half day on the water! - Excellent trip. Even though we had rainy weather it was still fantastic. The boat ride out to the hole is beautiful. They also stop on an island. It has a restaurant and bar. You can take a short hike up and see the sheep. Staff were great. Highly recommend this trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Teenyr2023
Jan 31, 2026
Hole in rock trip - Great trip. Very friendly crew and a huge thanks to Captain Blair and Audrey. Very kid friendly and made the trip well worth it. We felt safe the whole time and learnt a lot about the Bay of Islands. We also got to feed the huge Snapper and have a swim off the wharf. Very good half day tour indeed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tim_p
Jan 28, 2026
Blaine was excellent skipper and commentator. . Island stops were easy and fun. The Hole in the Rock was the best. - Blaine was excellent as skipper and commentator. Island stops were easy and fun the Hole in the Rock was the best.
Review provided by Viator
Lori_s
Jan 10, 2026
Awesome experience - We spent three weeks in North Island, and this was my favorite activity. We lucked out with calm waters, and went through the hole in the rock and into a sea cave. All the staff were friendly, and knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
Michellela68
Jan 5, 2026
Great excursion in the Bay of Island - To get an overview we booked the shipping to Hole in the Rock and Bay of Island with stopover on Roberto Island with Senic Lookout . We liked it very much, were well looked after and had fantastic weather . Just perfect 🤗🤩
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lovleen_a
Dec 23, 2025
Trip was perfect! Nick... - Trip was perfect! Nick managed to get us in one of the caves as far as possible and was very knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
815neala
Dec 18, 2025
The boat and skipper were both great - Zac, the skipper was a true professional. How he does and delivers the commentary over and over agin several times a day yet makes it sounds as tough we were all special is beyond me. The boat we went on was in immaculate condition.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wanderer19389339993
Dec 10, 2025
An awesome experience! Highly recommend! - We had an amazing time. The staff went out of their way to make this outing memorable. Very friendly and knowledgable team. Highly recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aziz_m
Dec 7, 2025
A Great Day Out! - Excellent experience! The captain was very well informed and knowledgeable about the area and history.
Review provided by Viator
Alh2025
Feb 5, 2026
Engineered for tourists - better ways to see the Bay of islands - This trip is incredibly weather dependent. On the trip,out to the hole in the rock (which is a frankly grossly overrated tourist trap) it rained which meant everything was viewed from inside largely negating the sights we were travelling through. The hole in the rock is uninspiring especially if like today it was too rough to actually cruise thorough (and it really was it that rough today). A whale was briefly sighted (briefly, like 4 seconds) if you were lucky enough to be at the front of the scrum to witness it. The island stopover was too brief to be of any use other than to sell you food from a basic range at the island cafe - definitely a trip manufactured for tourists. The trip back to Paihia was so cut better as the sun shone and outside seating was possible. If you want to see the Bay of Islands skip the boats and go for the fly drive half day where you will actually see a large number of the islands and their magnificent white sand beaches and turquoise seas rather than just bob past a few.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $85
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).