Hole in the Rock Cruise & Bay of Islands Tour

Escape the crowds on our small group cruise ship excursion, exploring 144 remote subtropical islands. Enjoy scenic cruising, island stopovers, wildlife spotting, bush walks, and snorkeling.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Island Getaway Tours - Check-in is at PIER 10 on the Paihia wharf. Please arrive 15 minutes before your departure time.
  • Bay of Islands - This cruise and island tour offers an unforgettable experience, featuring an island stopover and a visit to the renowned “Hole in the Rock,” along with scenic cruising through the 144 islands.
    Marvel at the…
What's Included
  • Smaller Group Tours (49 Guests Max)
  • Visit the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’ and Cape Brett Lighthouse
  • Remote island stopover (Roberton Island)
  • Scenic Cruise among 144 Islands
  • Wildlife spotting, commentary and information throughout the day
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Lunch
  • Alcoholic beverages
Additional Information

Discover the Bay of Islands, and take a scenic boat cruise through the 144 subtropical islands.
Visit the famous “Hole in the Rock” and Cape Brett Lighthouse.
Stopover on Roberton Island to take a short walk to the lookout point over the Twin Lagoons
Keep an eye out for our unique New Zealand sea birds and marine life, take a short walk along some of the…

Location
Paihia Wharf
Check-in at Pier 10, on the Paihia Wharf at least 20 minutes before your departure. Arriving on a cruiseship? Cruise ships will tender you into Waitangi Wharf, or Paihia Wharf. FREE shuttle buses are provided by the cruiseship company to transfer you from Waitangi to Paihia Wharf. (5 minutes)
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(47 Ratings)
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1 star
Chris_g
Oct 16, 2025
A fantastic boat trip with a wonderful crew. - We got a free upgrade from the 3 hour to the 4 1/2 hour trip which included an extra island stop. The crew on our boat were all really friendly and informative and the boat itself was very comfortable. We were fortunate enough to be out on a very calm day so our captain took us through the hole in the rock twice and our return trip was on the ocean side of the islands so we had a different view point which is not always possible. The first stop on Roberton Island included the opportunity to climb up to the lookout which gave absolutely amazing views over the bay. The second island stop was in a beautiful bay where there was a cafe and bar and a large seating area just above the beach. All in all a fantastic trip which we would thoroughly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Em_ajm20
Oct 12, 2025
Fantastic Boat Trip - We were upgraded to the 4.5 hour version of the trip as our original trip didn’t have enough people. We still did the same things but stayed at each stop for longer. Nick the skipper was brilliant. Lots of interesting facts and good humour too. Dan and Bluebell were also brilliant. Very welcoming and made the trip special and memorable. 100% recommended!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kylie_s
Oct 4, 2025
Breathtaking sailing with fantastic staff - Outstanding! I was the only one booked on this so was shifted to the 4.5 hour cruise, which was the highlight of my trip. The staff-especially young Dan-were excellent. The cruise around the beautiful Bay of Islands was breathtaking. We were also lucky to disembark for 30 minutes on Roberton Island. The weather played nicely which allowed us to cruise through the Hole in the Rock which was very cool. I was particularly excited that they sailed around the ‘corner’ from the Hole in the Rock so we could see a very cheeky fur seal colony playing and sunning on the rocks. Really appreciate also that the company works with the local Māori clans in partnership and this respect was shown throughout the cruise. I’ve done many activities in my couple of trips to NZ and this is my favourite to date.
Review provided by Viator
M1581cdjessicam
Oct 1, 2025
Boat ride to the hole in the rock and island stop off - Really enjoyable experience the staff were very friendly and a good laugh , well worth the visit if you are in the area , Great way to support a locally owned business
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Padmanabhan_k
Sep 8, 2025
Hole in the Rock cruise by Island Getaway - It was a wonderful experience. The stops at various islands, and going through the hole was worth it.
Review provided by Viator
Gary_b
Aug 17, 2025
Magic day filled with many many memories - The staff and captain were first class. Communication was clear and informative. Nothing was too much trouble for them. The vessel was spacious and staff went out of their way to make it more comfortable. Would thoroughly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Sarah_r
Mar 9, 2025
Hole in the rock - Our captain, Zack and assistants Renata and Blu were amazing and really made the trip. We were lucky enough to see a baby hammerhead shark and also two dolphins right in front of the hole in the rock. We were lucky to have lovely weather and to go though the hole in the wall. The views were breathtaking and we had a really good time, highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Chris_k
Mar 3, 2025
Great tour, but skip the lunch - Great tour. The boat captain was very knowledgeable and funny. We were lucky enough to see 2 dolphins as well. Well worth the cost.
Review provided by Viator
Voyager25705380232
Feb 10, 2025
Joke in the Rock tour with Cass and Adam - We went to 4.5 hours Hole in the Rock tour yesterday. Everything was more than what we expected to be, the scenery, the crew members, the trip arrangement including stopping at one of the beautiful island for lunch. I would like to especially mention our speed boat crew Cass and Adam, both are fantastic! Knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Larastockil
Feb 6, 2025
Perfect tour - We highly recommend this tour. Zack was a great guide and we were blessed to have perfect conditions which allowed us to go through the hole in the Rock and see dolphins, penguins and seals- it was an amazing day.
Review provided by Viator
From $83
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).