Bay of Islands Cruise with Roberton Island Stopover from Paihia

Paihia Wharf and the Bay of Islands

Paihia is the main holiday town of the Bay of Islands in Northland, on the North Island of New Zealand, and the wharf at the end of the waterfront is where most boat trips begin. Your Bay of Islands cruise checks in at Pier 10, a short walk from the town's cafes and the passenger ferry to Russell. The bay itself is a drowned river system scattered with more than a hundred islands, headlands and sheltered coves, and the water is usually calm close to shore.

Within minutes of leaving Paihia the boat is threading between islands, and the guide begins the live commentary that continues for the whole trip. If you are wondering what the best way to see the Bay of Islands is, a three-hour cruise like this one covers the key sights in a single morning or afternoon, which leaves time for Waitangi or Russell on the same day.

Roberton Island and the Twin Lagoons

Roberton Island, known in Maori as Motuarohia, is the first stop on this cruise and the only island you actually set foot on. It is a low, green island with a pair of shallow tidal lagoons in its centre, separated from the open bay by a narrow strip of sand. The boat lands you on the beach and the guide leads a short nature walk up to the lookout points on the ridge.

From the top the view takes in both lagoons, the beach where you landed and islands stretching away in every direction, a full 360-degree panorama. It is the same viewpoint from which the bay was named in the eighteenth century. The walk is easy and takes only a few minutes each way, so it suits most ages. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you would like a quick dip in the lagoon when time allows; these are not provided.

Cruising between the islands and wildlife spotting

After Roberton Island the cruise continues east through the heart of the bay, passing wooded islands, rocky points and quiet anchorages. The crew keep a constant lookout for marine life. Bottlenose and common dolphins are often seen in the Bay of Islands, and little blue penguins, gannets and shearwaters are common in the same waters. Sightings are never guaranteed because the animals are wild, but the small group and the guide's experience improve your chances.

The commentary explains the history of the islands, from early Maori settlement to the whaling and trading years, and points out landmarks along the route. The boat carries a maximum of 49 passengers, so there is room to move between the open deck and the sheltered seating, and photographers can usually find a clear spot at the rail.

Motukokako Island and the Hole in the Rock

The Hole in the Rock is the most famous natural landmark in the Bay of Islands and the furthest point of this cruise. It is a sea arch worn through Motukokako Island, a steep islet just off the tip of the Cape Brett Peninsula, about an hour's cruising from Paihia. The opening is large enough for boats to pass through in calm seas, and the captain will attempt it when conditions allow.

Even when the swell is too high to go through, the boat holds position close to the arch so everyone can see the light coming through the rock and the waves surging at its base. This is the moment most people on a Hole in the Rock cruise from Paihia wait for, so have your camera ready as the boat approaches from the sheltered side. The exposed water out here can be lively, and the crew will advise you where to stand.

Cape Brett Lighthouse

Standing on the headland above Motukokako is Cape Brett Lighthouse, a white tower built in the early twentieth century to guide ships along this rugged stretch of coast. The light was automated decades ago and the old keepers' cottage below it is now a hut for walkers on the Cape Brett Track. From the boat you see the lighthouse and the steep grassy slopes of the peninsula dropping to the sea.

The guide explains how the keepers once lived out here, supplied by boat, and why the point matters to shipping entering the bay. After the lighthouse the boat turns for the return run to Paihia, usually taking a different line through the islands so you see new coves and beaches on the way back. The whole trip lasts about three hours, with departures in the morning and the early afternoon.