Top Bay of Islands Food & Drink

Indulge in New Zealands local wine with this wine tour around the Bay of Islands. Start at the Ake Ake Vineyard to explore a family-run operation located just outside Kerikeiri. Tour the vineyard, learn about grape production, and sample drinks including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Travel to the Marsden Estate Winery & Restaurant. Enjoy a lunch platter while admiring the lake view.

The Bay of Islands is a place to indulge and have fun. On this tour experience some of New Zealand’s finest quality wines. The cost includes all tastings and a platter lunch.

Spend an evening immersed in Maori culture with a traditional ‘hangi’ dinner and live performance, held at the historically important signing site of the Waitangi Treaty. Enact a warrior challenge on a bush walk and watch energetic Maori music and dance. For dinner, feast on a multilayered meal cooked using the ancient hangi pit oven method.

Escape for the day and head into paradise with our Day Escape Package. Set sails and go exploring on a beautiful island. Enjoy your lunch with a swim, snorkel, SUP or walk before heading home Help out with the sails or just sit back and relax and take in the amazing scenery as we make our way out into the Bay of Islands. Anchoring up beside one of the many beaches only accessible by boat. Once anchored you can choose how to enjoy your excursion. You can swim in the clear waters, Or take a tender ride to the beach and have a picnic with our packed lunch. Then go for a scenic walk on the island and view the birdlife. Snorkeling equipment and stand up paddle boards are also provided. Plenty to keep you entertained before sailing home at the end of the day. Includes: Packed Lunch, 2 hour island stopover, Snorkel and SUP usage. Please notify us if you have any dietary requirements.

The Rock overnight cruise in the Bay of Islands is the only overnight cruise in the area to offer such a wide range of activities, including kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, island walks, and more. Enjoy adventure activities as well as time to relax in peaceful nature. As this is an all-inclusive tour you don’t need to worry about any logistics. Just show up ready for fun.

Explore the Bay of Islands from the seat of a 350 Chev Trike for a fun-filled and memorable experience. You can choose from three different routes that include some of the area’s must-see sights, or combine them all for a longer trip. Your driver keeps you safe and gives you local insights into the Paihia area. This tour is wheelchair accessible, so anyone can join.

Sail the Bay of Islands on a working tall ship aboard the famed ‘R. Tucker Thompson,’ built in the tradition of a 100-year-old Northland schooner. Ply the waters of the pristine bay, where you can help hoist the sails, climb the rigging or simply relax on board, then swim while anchored in a sheltered bay in the maritime park. Enjoy morning tea and a barbecue lunch, with an optional complimentary ferry ride from Paihia to Russell, where your vessel departs.

Explore subtropical islands, Maori heritage sites and golden beaches on this cruise around the Bay of Islands from Paihia. Soak up the scenery as you float between the bay’s 144 islands, sail straight through the iconic Hole in the Rock (weather permitting) and tuck into a BBQ lunch or dinner at the stunning Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island. Along the way, spot dolphins swimming and playing alongside the boat.

When your ship docks in Waitangi Wharf, explore the beautiful Bay of Islands and see the best of New Zealand’s spectacular North Island. Travel through the Bay of Islands with your guide and take in top attractions including Kawakawa and the Kawiti glowworm caves. Explore the Puketi Forest’s rich ecological diversity, sample New Zealand sweet treats at the Makana Chocolate Factory, and gaze out over the Haruru Falls and the Waitangi River.

Let seafaring experts show you the best of New Zealand’s Bay of Islands by land and by water on this adventure cruise. With 144 different isles, it can be hard to know where to start, but your captain and crew know all the best spots to swim, snorkel, stand-up paddleboard, and spot marine life. Hop off at two hand-picked islands for a hike to panoramic lookout points and beachside tea with biscuits.

Discover the Bay of Islands by helicopter, with an optional landing at the Hole in the Rock. See Cape Brett from above during an aerial tour from Paihia, narrated by a professional pilot. Fly over Russell and Waitangi en route to the Hole in the Rock. Upgrade to land atop the iconic natural landmark, with an optional walk led by a Maori guide.

There are few more unique ways to see the Bay of Islands than catching the wind and parasailing high above the water. See the Bay’s towns, forests and islands – all the way out to Cape Brett’s famous Hole in the Rock – from the sky on this aerial adventure. Take to the skies with your friends or family on tandem or triple flights. Your children can even go parasailing – this adventure is suitable for all.

The Bay of Islands is one of the most visited attractions of New Zealand’s North Island, and this private 6-hour tour from Paihia combines all its highlights with wine tasting in the Kerikeri wine region. Along the way, discover New Zealand’s colonial history at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, marvel at natural wonders such as Haruru Falls and Wharepuke Falls, and immerse yourself in Maori culture at Rewa‘s Village.

This full-day Bay of Islands tour with wine tasting is designed for cruise ship passengers who want to make the most of a short stay in the area. You’ll travel with a private guide, so you have the freedom to adjust the itinerary, go at your own pace, and ask questions. Visit several must-see sights around the Bay and some of New Zealand’s best vineyards at Kerikeri, all on an easy day trip.

Enjoy a private and authentic cooking class, local market tour and home cooked meal with your host Anna. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone looking to connect with local culture over food. The market tour involves Anna showing you the best vendors and talking to you about the local culture. Anna and her family live in a 140-year old Kauri villa that they are slowly renovating. The kitchen is the hub of their home and they have opened it up to make the most of its beautiful original character. Anna enjoys meeting new people and is looking forward to having fun sharing wholesome delicious food together with travelers to the area. After your cooking class you will join the family at the dining table or vine covered deck in the summer time, to enjoy the very meal you have cooked. You may have cooked a vegetarian or vegan barbecue or a meal influenced by middle-eastern, Italian, Asian or Mexican flavors. Dessert will include pudding, cake, tart or homemade ice cream.

Enjoy a unique opportunity to visit the home of a local and cook delicious vegetarian cuisine with this private cooking class. Step into the beautiful 140-year old villa of your host Anna and learn to cook a range of vegetarian dishes in her wonderful kitchen. After you have finished cooking, enjoy your meal alongside the family at either the dining table or, in summertime, on the vine-covered deck.

Spend the day exploring the Bay of Islands on a full-day cruise from Paihia. Participate in activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, gathering fresh sea food, exploring WWII remains, and trekking across islands to visit ancient Maori fortifications. Refuel with a buffet lunch midday and spend some time relaxing on a secluded beach.

Book the whole boat to yourself and up to 10 guests! Have more choice in where you want to go and what you want to do (weather permitting). Swim in the clear waters or take a walk on the island. Enjoy a delicious lunch on the boat. Snorkeling and SUP boards provided. Plenty to choose from before sailing home at the end of the day. Time: 9:30am-Approx. 3:30pm Price includes an individual packed lunch; please contact us for more catering options (Upgraded lunch menu, charcuterie boards etc.)