There’s no better way to soak in the unique charm of the Bay of Islands than by spending a day sailing through the beautiful Bay on the tall ship the R. Tucker Thompson, weaving through ancient islands under majestic sails you’ve helped the crew to hoist, wandering an island beach and taking a dip in the blue green sea, finishing off by exploring the quaint character and stories of historic Kororāreka, Russell.
The Bay of Islands is the birth place of Aotearoa’s mingling of cultures, where Europeans initially arrived to interact with the people of New Zealand, whaling and working together, warring and learning from each other. Kororāreka, Russell, once known as the “Hell hole of the Pacific” a wild and lawless whaling and sailing port holds these stories in her bones, the musket holes from The Battle of Kororāreka still visible in the walls of New Zealand’s oldest church here.
Start the day with a short 10 minute Ferry ride across the Bay from Paihia to Russell, included in your Day Sail ticket, pick up your complimentary Ferry tickets from Bay of Islands i-SITE and catch an early Ferry and give yourself time to wander the beachfront of Russell before boarding the Tucker on the Russell Wharf for a 10am departure.
A day sailing on the Tucker can be an exciting interactive experience, helping to hoist sails, climb the rigging and sail the ship or equally, sit back and relax, let the wind in the sails and the movement of the sea calm and rejuvenate you. Our crew are a special bunch, friendly, helpful, interesting, and skilled at sharing their knowledge and experience of tall ship sailing and stories of the Bay. Enjoy freshly baked scones from the galley for morning tea and a delicious BBQ lunch cooked on deck while you explore an island beach or swim in the sea.
Return to Russell Wharf by 3.30pm and make the most of the rest of the afternoon and evening and your complimentary return ferry tickets to Paihia by exploring the beauty, history, stories, character, charm, eateries, beach and stunning sunset of Russell.
Visit Pompallier House, walk through the glorious gardens, get curious with hands on experience of 19th century printing, bookmaking and tannery.
Keep it simple and fun with the quintessential kiwi summer dinner, takeaway fish and chips on the beach, while the kids run, play, swim and get the best sun set, looking west from Russell over the Bay, before catching the Ferry back to Paihia.
Or try one or two of the delicious eateries in Russell for an evening drink and dinner, the historic Duke of Marlborough, The Gables, or the famous Hone’s Garden, finished with an evening stroll along the shore, dipping your toes in sea, before heading home on a later ferry to Paihia.
Ferries from Paihia to Russell start at 7.20am and the last Ferry returning to Paihia from Russell is 10pm.
Image by Kristine Zipfel
