There are plenty of things to do within the Bay of Islands, but if you're not out sport fishing, a short cruise is an excellent option to see the bays and islands - and sometimes to see whales and dolphins as well; knocking off a few great experiences in one go.
We had the possibility to try and do exactly that: an overnight cruise on the Ipipiri upon their last sailing of the season. The Ipipiri is actually a new-built boat - the largest one sailing in the Bay of Islands - and it's well-designed for relaxation and fun on short trips, maximizing possibilities to benefit from the outdoors, rather than housing casinos or multiple restaurants.
There was some strong winds coming through (a storm had cancelled my dive the day before) however the size of the ship plus the protective islands and bays meant we were sailing smoothly. Within half an hour we encountered a pod of dolphins, in addition to some dolphin-watching boats. The captain pulled to a stop to allow us to observe them play for almost 30 minutes.
Those magnificently large cabin windows came in handy the next morning since we woke to wonderful views. Steep green hills rose into a blue sky; the winds still blew but the grey clouds had gone. We went up to breakfast, chatted with other passengers, and enjoyed the nearly panoramic views.
All quite soon we were heading back over the harbour, but there was still some surprises in store. The ship sailed comfortably through wind-whipped white waves, but we were still able to spot some dolphins chasing fish along side cliff face. The captain slowed to provide us a good look, but kept a polite distance; the dolphins responded to the attention by making huge vertical leaps to the delight of everyone on the cruise.
The Ipipiri overnight cruise in the Bay of Islands doesn't always follow precisely the same schedule. Depending on weather, wildlife as well as other factors, the captain and crew have lots of options for things to do - including kayaking, swimming and snorkelling, as well as island excursions and dolphin- or whale-watching. Without a car, Paihia is a four-hour bus ride from Auckland with the InterCity Northliner bus.
Flights from Auckland are possible (private or through Air New Zealand), but the local airports are all very small, so it pays to speak with your accommodation provider before hand about transfers. Hop-on, hop-off bus passes are likewise available, mainly serving a 18-35 year-old crowd. The drivers or local guides with these New Zealand backpacker buses can often arrange accommodation for everyone too.
We had the possibility to try and do exactly that: an overnight cruise on the Ipipiri upon their last sailing of the season. The Ipipiri is actually a new-built boat - the largest one sailing in the Bay of Islands - and it's well-designed for relaxation and fun on short trips, maximizing possibilities to benefit from the outdoors, rather than housing casinos or multiple restaurants.
There was some strong winds coming through (a storm had cancelled my dive the day before) however the size of the ship plus the protective islands and bays meant we were sailing smoothly. Within half an hour we encountered a pod of dolphins, in addition to some dolphin-watching boats. The captain pulled to a stop to allow us to observe them play for almost 30 minutes.
Those magnificently large cabin windows came in handy the next morning since we woke to wonderful views. Steep green hills rose into a blue sky; the winds still blew but the grey clouds had gone. We went up to breakfast, chatted with other passengers, and enjoyed the nearly panoramic views.
All quite soon we were heading back over the harbour, but there was still some surprises in store. The ship sailed comfortably through wind-whipped white waves, but we were still able to spot some dolphins chasing fish along side cliff face. The captain slowed to provide us a good look, but kept a polite distance; the dolphins responded to the attention by making huge vertical leaps to the delight of everyone on the cruise.
The Ipipiri overnight cruise in the Bay of Islands doesn't always follow precisely the same schedule. Depending on weather, wildlife as well as other factors, the captain and crew have lots of options for things to do - including kayaking, swimming and snorkelling, as well as island excursions and dolphin- or whale-watching. Without a car, Paihia is a four-hour bus ride from Auckland with the InterCity Northliner bus.
Flights from Auckland are possible (private or through Air New Zealand), but the local airports are all very small, so it pays to speak with your accommodation provider before hand about transfers. Hop-on, hop-off bus passes are likewise available, mainly serving a 18-35 year-old crowd. The drivers or local guides with these New Zealand backpacker buses can often arrange accommodation for everyone too.
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