Sundowner Sailing: Evening Tall Ship Cruise

Experience a special tall ship adventure in the Bay of Islands with Sundowner Sailing. Enjoy a 2-hour gentle sail, light finger food, and a cash bar. Book now!

Duration: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Paihia Harbour - Paihia is a bustling tourist town in the Summer - lots of restaurants, eateries, shops and beaches. Spend as long as you want there.
  • R. Tucker Thompson - Location where folks book with the Tucker and other attractions, there’s a nice souvenir shop and restaurant as well.
  • Russell - This it the town the ship leaves from - plenty of history, shops and cafes to interest many of our passengers.
What's Included
  • Cruise of the inner Bay of Islands on the tall ship, the R. Tucker Thompson
  • Licensed bar on board
  • Shared Antipasto Platter
  • Wet weather gear (if required)
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Begin a summer evening in the Bay of Islands with a delightful tall ship adventure through the stunning inner harbor. Experience the refreshing sea breeze as it fills the sails, unwind with a refreshing drink, or participate in the sailing activities - manage the rigging or take a turn at the helm. This two-hour tour is available on Wednesdays, Fridays,…

Location
Russell Wharf, Russell, Bay of Islands
The Strand
Departing from the Russell Wharf. We provide free ferry transfers to and from Paihia to Russell. Collect these from any Paihia Info Centre at the wharf. Catch the 3.30 pm ferry from Paihia at the latest to board the ship in Russell 3.45pm. Returning to russell 5.45pm. Ferry Russell - Paihia 6.30pm
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(94 Ratings)
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Happiness41027469116
Apr 20, 2025
Ahoy mates!! - Amazing...we will never forget this experience. Kids had fun and we spoke about the hard work that goes into maintaining that ship. Crew members were friendly and easy to talk to.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kirah927
Mar 29, 2025
Don't miss out on this! - Absolutely Amazing!! This experience will always be one of our favorite memories of our trip to New Zealand. Not only does all the money go to charity, but they let you help with the rigging, hauling up the sails, and climbing the ropes. I even got to sit on top of the mast for awhile. It was awesome. 100% would recommend to locals and tourists.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
775mariannew
Mar 21, 2025
Fun Afternoon Aboard the R. Tucker Thompson - What a fun afternoon. The crew were friendly and helpful. The skipper allowed my "first mate" -- an old salt -- to drive the boat for a bit, which pleased my husband to no end. Bay of Islands is incredibly beautiful and this was a special way to view it. Apparently this boat and its history are renown in the area; when we mentioned to locals we were going aboard they all agreed "oh, that's such a great ship."
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lani
Feb 27, 2025
Perfect afternoon sail - Beautiful ship, stunning sunny afternoon with a moderate breeze, perfect for sailing. Friendly and informative crew. We really enjoyed our sundowner sail. Pity we didn’t go for the whole day experience. Maybe next time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aucklandandbeyond
Feb 18, 2025
Such an amazing experience! - Highly recommend this relaxing sailing experience. You can get hands on or sit back and enjoy a drink. Whatever you do, the kindness of the crew and the beauty of proper sailing will definitely impress.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
672paulinem
Feb 13, 2025
Superb! Don’t miss out! - Excellent experience & fantastic crew .. worth spending time to enjoy this experience if you ‘re in the area. In fact the area is very much worth the visit so don’t miss it. Superb value for money. Also supporting a worthy charity 😊
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debbie_s
Feb 10, 2025
Highly recommended! - A relaxing and fun way to see the beautiful bays around Paihia and Russell in the Bay of Islands. The R. Tucker Thompson is a beautiful ship, the crew are all excellent and give you lots of laughs. And it's all to support a fantastic cause - youth development.
Review provided by Viator
Markpt5524hm
Feb 3, 2025
From peacefull to exciting. You choose! - Fantastic trip. Both my wife and I climbed the rigging. Lovely peaceful sailing experience. Russell is a gem and this boat and team were a pleasure as hosts.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K2464ykcherylc
Feb 24, 2025
Lovely afternoon - Beautiful ship and very helpful/accommodating staff. Fun watching people climb the rigging… Didn’t venture up myself though.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leslierp3282xa
Feb 12, 2025
Wonderful to get on a boat in the Bay of Islands - We had a late afternoon 1.5 hour sail. Perfect weather. So great to get on the water. The crew was very friendly and provided great service. The wood on the boat needs to be taken care of. We had a very enjoyable time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor