Sail to New Zealand

Depart Opua after boarding and cruise across the bay to Russell, historically known as Kororareka, one of the earliest European settlement areas in New Zealand. Anchor or berth, then take the tender across to Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed on 6 February 1840. Return to the yacht for a late swim and an easy first dinner on board, with Russell’s shoreline lights in view.

Cruise deeper into the island group and spend the day at Urupukapuka, the largest island in the bay. Use Otehei Bay as your base: swim off the stern, take the tender along the shoreline, then walk one of the island tracks for a higher viewpoint over the inner bay. The Department of Conservation manages the recreation reserve and notes the island as a place for beach time, kayaking, and walking. Keep the evening at anchor and let the bay settle around you.

Head east toward Cape Brett, where the bay opens and the coastline becomes more dramatic. Plan a pass by Motu Kokako, also known as Piercy Island and widely referred to as the Hole in the Rock, at the tip of the Cape Brett peninsula. Continue into a sheltered cove for lunch, then decide on your afternoon shore plan: a water taxi drop for a walk to Cape Brett Lighthouse, or a tender ride along the cliff line for views back into the bay. The Department of Conservation notes the lighthouse site for its cliff top setting and clockwork mechanism. Dinner on board works well here, with the entrance to the bay just beyond the headland.

Begin with a short move into Whangamumu Harbour for a swim stop, then turn back into the bay and run south toward the quieter inlets. The Bay of Islands geography includes larger inlets such as the Waikare Inlet in the south, which is well suited to a slower afternoon. Anchor in calm water, then spend the late day on the tender: shoreline exploring, paddleboarding, and a sunset lap through the inlet when the water goes glassy.

Cruise north through the inner bay toward Opua for disembarkation. If timing suits, pause near Paihia or Waitangi for a final coffee run ashore, then return to Opua with enough margin to rinse gear, pack, and step off without hurry. Opua’s marina facilities and access to Kerikeri and Paihia make it a straightforward finish point.