Join the friendly crew of the Manawanui on a 3-day sailing expedition around the Bay of Islands. Snorkel in crystal clear waters, kayak around uninhabited islands, catch your own fresh seafood or walk on deserted beaches to experience the true magic of this special part of New Zealand

The Cruise
This is a down-to-earth 3-day sailing cruise off the beaten track. We depart from Paihia every Tuesday and Friday for 2 nights and 3 days of discovery and adventure. We provide plenty of stopovers on picturesque islands or coastal headlands so that you can explore your surroundings. At night we anchor in secluded bays away from the main tourist routes.

We offer a multitude of activities and information on wildlife, history, culture and sailing to ensure that you get the best Bay of Islands experience on offer. You will be encouraged to gain hands on experience in sailing, gathering of seafood and living in harmony with nature. So join us for some amazing fun and you might find that like most of our passengers you will not want to leave the Manawanui at the end of your trip.

The Crew
Jochen 'John' - Owner/Operator and qualified Coast and Countryside Ranger
James - Co-owner/Operator & great chef
Moby - Mascot and bringer of good luck (our friendly ship's dog)

When to go
Being the winterless north, the Bay of Islands provides good cruising conditions all year round. Average day temperatures in winter (June-August) are around 15 degrees, reaching 20 degrees on warm days and rarely dropping below 12 degrees. Summer temperatures (December-February) average around 22 degrees with hot days reaching over 30 degrees.

The winter months are less suited for activities like swimming and snorkelling but are the better time to see migrating wildlife such as whales, seals and albatrosses.