SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW

Cruise the turquoise waters and unspoiled inlets of the Bay of Islands and see Cape Brett Lighthouse, the Hole-in-the-Rock Sea arch and more. You’ll depart the pier aboard a stable catamaran featuring roomy indoor and outdoor viewing decks, sailing under what could be the earth’s bluest skies into a constellation of 150 unspoiled islands off the North Island’s northeast corner. The Bay of Islands is both magnificent and historically significant: New Zealand’s earliest Maori settlers migrated here 700 years ago, and its first British missionary settlers arrived in 1814. Charles Darwin stopped by not long after, and in more modern times, American adventure writer Zane Grey popularized the islands as a big-game fishing paradise. You’ll journey through these fabled waters today, passing picturesque islets as you make for crisply white Cape Brett Lighthouse, perched high atop a spectacular headland’s cliff. You’ll see Motukokako Island with its dramatic Hole-in-the-Rock arch and visit another major highlight, the majestic Grand Cathedral Cave. Slowly cruising among the inner islands, you may have engaging encounters with the schools of dolphin that frequent these waters. Commentary from the captain will help fill in the natural and cultural history of it all.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise into the Bay of Islands aboard a comfortable catamaran with indoor and outdoor viewing decks.
• Journey through legendary big-game fishing waters en route to the Cape Brett Lighthouse.
• Pass beautiful Motukokako Island and the famous Hole-in-the-Rock sea cliff, and see majestic Grand Cathedral Cave.
• Learn about this region’s key role in New Zealand history from the captain’s commentary.
• Be on the lookout for playful dolphin and other marine wonders as you take in the peaceful beauty of the inner islands.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear layered, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Bring sunglasses and other sun protection as needed.

OVERVIEW

Visit thrilling natural wonders like a cavern illuminated by glowworms and a forest of giant kauri trees, and see several man-made attractions, too. Kawiti Caves contains plenty of bizarre and impressive stalagmites and stalactites, but its most wondrous sight is the galaxy of blue-green lights given off by thousands of tiny glowworms attached to the inky-black ceiling. It’s a spectacular sight and your guide will share fascinating facts about the lifecycle of these famous little New Zealand residents. The denizens of Puketi Forest are a bit larger – like, say, 150 feet tall and up to 2,000 years old. Rivaling the California redwood in height and girth, thousands of mighty kauri trees once cloaked the Bay of Islands. The reserve you’ll tour is one of the last protected areas where they still stand, and the boardwalk through the forest allows visitors to admire these gargantuan wonders up-close without damaging their sensitive roots. A side trip to colorful Kawakawa adds levity to the day, with its train tracks running down the main street and whimsical public restrooms designed by an Austrian artist.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a guided tour of Kawiti Caves and see the brilliant light show created by thousands of tiny glowworms attached to cavern ceiling.
• Stroll along a boardwalk path through the towering kauri trees of Puketi Forest reserve.
• Visit Kawakawa, where the vintage railroad runs through downtown and the public restrooms are… colorful.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing; include a light jacket or sweater.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Cruise to Urupukapuka Island, a serene beach-blessed oasis where you can relax for hours however you please. To reach this largest of the 144 islands in the gorgeous Bay of Islands, you will cruise through a stunningly beautiful seascape, where you may spot bottlenose dolphins and other marine life. Upon arriving at Otehei Bay, which is tucked between two headlands on the island’s southern shore, you will be free to enjoy the golden sands and crystal-clear waters. You might take a refreshing swim in the sea, stretch on a towel and bask in the sun and ease into a bean-bag chair and gaze out over the sheltered waters. Once populated by the Māori, the island still holds several of their fortified areas known as pās. American author Zane Grey used Urupukapuka as a base for his early 20th-century fishing expeditions and his writings brought great attention to the Bay of Islands.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise through the beautiful Bay of Islands to Urupukapuka, the largest of the islands.
• Spend free time enjoying Urupukapuka at your leisure, whether swimming or just relaxing.
• Enjoy a buffet lunch along Otehei Bay on the island’s southern shore.
• Walk to a scenic lookout point and a former Māori fortified area if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a hat, towel, and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a sumptuous lunch as you cruise calm Bay of Islands waters, passing a vineyard, an oyster farm and numerous historic sites en route to the port of Russell. Voyaging from Waitangi, where New Zealand’s founding document between the British Crown and the Maori chieftains was signed in 1840, your leisurely coastline cruise winds past many sites that influenced the country’s history since. Okiato was the first capital city – but only for two years until Auckland took over. Omata, once a favored arrival point for European immigrants, is now a favored wine-growing region. As you encounter these and other sights, you’ll savor a traditional New Zealand lunch and learn much about the Bay of Islands’ evolution from rustic frontier settlement to top-shelf travel destination. Once you dock at Russell, enjoy an hour of free time to explore independently before the return to Waitangi. Long known by the unfortunate moniker of “Hell Hole of the Pacific,” Russell was the original lawless whaling, sealing and trading port on the North Island – notoriously inhabited by crusty mariners, deserters and convicts on the lam. Today, it’s a delightfully picturesque time capsule, rich with history and meticulously restored mid-19th-century buildings – with musket ball scars.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a sumptuous shipboard lunch as you cruise through the beautiful waters of the Bay of Islands.
• Pass by about fascinating sights along the shoreline like Okiato, New Zealand’s earliest capital, and Omata, once an immigration port, now a winegrowing center.
• Pull in at Kororareka, now known as Russell, the largest whaling port in the southern hemisphere during the 19th century – and the most lawless.
• Enjoy an hour of free time here to explore at your leisure before the return sail.
• Discover a picturesque waterfront village of historic restored homes, churches, and wooden cottages.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing; include a light jacket or sweater.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, a bottle of water from the ship, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Hop aboard a vintage train for a spectacularly picturesque ride through the countryside in a restored 19th-century carriage. The journey will begin and end at the Kawakawa Railway Station, a largely intact building from 1911. The flagship steam engine Gabriel will power the train as it travels through native bush, pristine wetlands, and fertile farmland and across the longest curved wooden railway bridge in the Southern Hemisphere. Along the way, you will hear entertaining commentary about the region’s Māori heritage, colonial industries and conservation efforts that have helped preserve the indigenous flora and fauna. As the train makes its way toward Opua, it will follow the natural curves of the Kawakawa River, where you may spot water birds. If nothing more, peek at the whimsical public restrooms back in Kawakawa. Designed by world-famous architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, they feature undulating walls, multi-colored tiles, recycled bottles, and a live tree growing through the grass-covered roof.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a vintage train through a largely untouched landscape of native bush and wetlands.
• Enjoy the ambiance of traveling in a beautifully restored 19th-century train carriage.
• Pass over the Southern Hemisphere’s longest curved railway viaduct.
• Look for wildlife, especially water birds, while following the Kawakawa River.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover the stories and places tied to New Zealand’s early Maori and European history during a scenic journey to Kerikeri and Waitangi. Your discoveries begin with a drive to the coastal town of Paihia, where one of the earliest British missionary stations was established in 1823. Some 16 miles away in the lush orcharding town of Kerikeri, visit Kemp House (Built 1821- 1822), and the Stone Store (Constructed 1832- 1836), remnants of a Mission Station established even earlier, in 1819. You Will visit the most renowned North Island cultural touchstone at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the site where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed on 6 February 1840. Often called the ‘Birthplace of our Nation’, Waitangi weaves together the strands and stories of many peoples, events and places to reveal the rich cultural history of New Zealand. During your guided tour, you will discover the stories, people and events that shaped the past, present and future. View the Treaty House, Te Whare Rūnanga (carved meeting house) and the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe. After your tour, re-join your transportation for the short ride back to the wharf or stay at the Treaty grounds and make your own way back.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel to historic landmarks where New Zealand’s Maori and British history has taken place.
• See an early missionary station in Paihia, then visit an even earlier one in Kerikeri, home to the oldest wooden and stone buildings in New Zealand, Kemp House and the Stone Store.
• Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where you will discover the stories, people and events that shaped the past, present and future of New Zealand.
• View the Treaty House, Te Whare Rūnanga (carved meeting house) and the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear layered, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Cruise through the breathtakingly beautiful Bay of Islands and stop along the way at destinations that are especially historical and scenic. After passing through the inner harbor, you will enter the bay, a subtropical region of 144 islands surrounded by clear blue waters. Golden beaches, secluded coves, dramatic coastlines, and dense forests all contribute to the natural beauty and allure. Highlights include passing the Twin Lagoons and visiting the site where Captain James Cook first landed, putting the Bay of Islands on the world map. Whalers, traders, and entrepreneurs soon followed, disrupting the lives of the indigenous Māoris that first settled the islands. You will pause at one of those idyllic islands and walk to a panoramic lookout for a spectacular elevated view of the bay. Chances are, you will spot marine life throughout the cruise, including bottlenose dolphins and fur seals. Sea birds are also abundant.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Be awed by the natural beauty while cruising through the Bay of Islands.
• Pass the Twin Lagoons, one of the bay’s most photogenic spots.
• Behold the surrounding islands and bay from atop a panoramic lookout.
• Stop where Captain James Cook first landed in 1769.
• Look for marine life such as dolphins and fur seals.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore the Kawati Caves, a cavernous wonderland filled with thousands of glow worms that eerily illuminate the interior. The descendants of the Māori chieftain Kawiti own the caves, which are home to a species of gnat – commonly called a glow worm – that emits a blue-green light from an organ near its tail. That bioluminescence is created when chemicals and enzymes in the gnat react with oxygen in the air. The mesmerizing light show resembles a galaxy of stars in the inky blackness. The lights attract other insects that get caught in the network of silky yet sticky threads that the glow worms leave hanging from the ceiling like icicles. Caves are the ideal habitat for the glow worms because there is enough dampness to draw prey but little wind to disturb the threads. However, the slightest noise – sneezing, coughing or even whispering – can be enough to disturb the glow worms and turn off their lights.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through a cave whose only light is bioluminescence from glow worms.
• Look up at the cave’s ceiling, which is covered with thousands of glow worms.
• Discover how the glow worms produce their lights and how they attract insect prey.
• Learn a bit about the history of the cave, which the Māoris have long owned.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore the site where New Zealand’s founding document was signed in 1840 and watch a cultural performance in a carved meeting house on the property. The Waitangi Treaty was a formal agreement between the colonizing British government and the Māori chiefs that was meant to protect the indigenous people. Although the treaty wasn’t followed to the letter, it is still considered a watershed document. While visiting the grounds where the treaty was signed, you will gain a deeper understanding of the Māori culture. To honor their heritage, the Māori will perform traditional songs and a group war dance known as a haka, which embodies their cultural pride and unity. You will also see one of the world’s largest ceremonial canoes, a double-hulled vessel that the Māori built in 1940 to celebrate the centenary of the signing of the Waitangi Treaty. Although 114-feet long, the canoe is seaworthy and is launched annually during Waitangi Day.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See where the British and the Māoris signed the pivotal Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
• Watch a Māori cultural performance inside a whare rūnanga communal house.
• Be struck by the enormity of a ceremonial war canoe that is one of the world’s largest.
• Browse a museum that presents the history of the Treaty of Waitangi in captivating ways.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise through the stunningly beautiful Bay of Islands on a catamaran and relax however you please on Motuarohia, an island that the early Māoris settled in great numbers. While cruising the bay’s turquoise waters, keep an eye out for dolphin, which are often seen swimming along in the boat’s wake. Wildlife is also abundant on Motuarohia, especially since the island became a protected refuge in the 1950s. During free time, you might observe the ever-changing parade of colorful marine life while snorkeling, take a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear sea or just stretch out on the beach and bask in the sun. If you are feeling energetic, you might follow a trail through the native bush to the top of the island for a spectacular 360° view of the Bay of Islands. You could also go birding for often-spotted species such as yellowhammers, little penguins, and brown quails.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take in the breathtaking views while cruising a catamaran through the Bay of Islands.
• Spend free time on Motuarohia Island, a protected reserve.
• Swim in the sea, bask in the sun and enjoy a picnic lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a hat, towel, and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Fish for snapper and other prized game fish in the crystal-clear waters of the Bay of Islands. The captain will select the exact location based on the day’s water conditions, but it won’t take long to reach the prime fishing grounds. On the way there, the crew will prepare your fishing tackle and describe the kinds of species that are often caught. Everything you need for fishing will be provided on the boat, allowing you to better concentrate on reeling them in. You might hook a hard-fighting trevally as they travel in schools or maybe a blue cod, an indigenous species that typically inhabits rocky sea bottoms. Another possibility is catching a tarakihi, a mildly flavored fish that is often deep-fried in fish and chips. Whatever you catch, it will be a thrill to reel in and then release back into the sea for another day.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fish for some of the New Zealand’s most sought-after, hard-fighting game fish.
• Follow the crew’s tips to increase your chances of catching snapper, trevally and blue cod.
• Board a fishing boat ready to go, as everything will be provided and set up.
• Enjoy the experience of being aboard a fishing boat with an affable captain.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.
• Hat, sunscreen, and bottled water recommended.

OVERVIEW

Paddle the tranquil waters of Waitangi Estuary on a scenic kayaking tour that visits mangroves and waterfalls. Your seasoned guide will walk with you across the Waitangi Bridge to the kayak launch for a safety briefing and gear-up before heading out into the estuary waters. Working your way through this beautiful natural setting, you’ll glide by a low forest of mangrove trees, their glistening root systems protruding out from beneath the water to create a crucial breeding ground for many species of small fish. This protected habitat is a crucial component of not only the estuary but the whole Bay of Islands ecosystem. After a time, you’ll reach Haruru Falls, surrounded on one side by the lush Waitangi Forest. The falls themselves, while not especially high, are nonetheless a spectacular sight when seen from the water like this, especially if any recent rainfall has added oomph to their volume. Take a rest break and enjoy a cup of tea served at a nearby picnic area before returning to the ship via van.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a guided paddle by tandem kayak into Waitangi Estuary, where the river joins the bay.
• Glide along normally calm waters past ranks of deep green mangroves whose exposed prop roots create an essential breeding habitat for small fish.
• Reach the end of the estuary at Haruru Falls, not always mighty but always magnificent from the water.
• Step out onto land and relax awhile over supplied a cup of tea at a picnic area near the falls.
• Refreshed, make the return via van to Waitangi Wharf.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear a bathing suit under shorts or a cover-up; bring a jacket in case conditions change.
• Waterproof beach shoes or flip-flops are recommended.
• Bring a towel, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.