Had an amazing trip to Cape Brett and the Hole in the Rock recently. Crew so friendly. Skipper Hamish was so knowledgeable and informative. Great to have that local input. Bluebell was attentive to customers the whole time. It was great to have a couple of island stopover included . It was an amazing day, beautiful weather and scenery. It was a very worthwhile trip and an excellent company to travel with. Will travel again with Island Getaway Tours.
Ewout Vanfleteren
-
March 04, 2026
We had the most amazing experience with Island Getaway Tours in the stunning Bay of Islands! From start to finish, everything was perfectly organized and unforgettable.
The crew was friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the area. They shared fascinating insights about the local history, marine life, and hidden gems throughout the bay.
The scenery was breathtaking: crystal-clear waters, secluded beaches, and lush green islands everywhere you looked.
What really stood out was the personal touch. The team made sure everyone felt welcome and they took the time to talk to everyone.
If you’re visiting the Bay of Islands, I highly recommend booking with Island Getaway Tours! 😊
Susan Guest
-
February 14, 2026
Great tour on a not-so-great weather day!
The skipper Hamish and crew Bluebell were excellent at setting the expectations for the day.
Despite the rain and swell we made it to the Hole in the Wall, as well as enjoying the commentary on the history and nature surrounding the Bay of Islands area.
The 2 island stops were great !
Robertson island afforded a magnificent view if you wanted to make the climb up the track.
Otehei Bay was a relaxing stop - on a finer day I would definitely have taken up the swim and snorkel option.
Highly recommend this tour !
Shawn
-
February 16, 2026
Perfect half day activity in the area for the whole family! We did the 4.5 hour tour departing at 2PM in December and it was perfect!
We stopped at two islands and went to see the hole in the rock. We were lucky with calm seas, inside the bay it’s very calm, once you approach the hole in the rock it’s the open ocean and the waves are bigger. When the seas are calm, the boat can go through the hole in the rock which is a fantastic experience. Not all boats can fit through the hole which is why going with a smaller boat is preferred, Island Getaway Tours fleet is smaller which allows them to do such.
We booked last minute as we were waiting to see the weather and sea conditions. If you book last minute (same day) and order the lunch it might not be available. The experience was great but I would only do this in good weather if you get sea sick/motion sick. There is inside seating but it’s not as much fun as seating on the top and getting the 360 degrees views.
The staff were amazing and we learned so much about the region! We saw a number of sea animals including dolphins. At one of the island stops there was a fish feeding activity. The staff also brought out snorkeling gear for those who wanted it. They run a tight ship, with the 2 island stops and the hole in the rock, stops are timed carefully and the boat departs on time. We had about 45 minutes on the first island and about an hour on the second island. If your goal is to chill on the beach consider a full day tour.
Would recommend to get to the port early so you can be one of the first to board and seat outside on the top or the back of the boat.
Bring cash to buy water on board. The restaurant on the second island accepted credit cards. It’s a good idea to bring drinks and snacks with you.
Highly recommend! Thanks for the great experience :)
Chris & Sarah Larcombe
-
January 07, 2026
There are many choices for cruising the beautiful Bay of Islands, and we definitely chose the right one, for our family. The 4.5 hour cruise has something for everyone, and the smaller boat means you feel closer to the action and stunning scenery. The crew were truly amazing - great stories and history lessons, with the perfect amount of kiwi humour :) I am pretty sure their names were Nick, JT and Audrey.... and aside from always being there to take photos of/for us, they even snuck in a cheeky selfie!
Our Address
69 Marsden Road, Paihia 0200, New Zealand
Claim Listing: Sea Shuttle Bay of Islands
Please Login or Register an Account to Claim Listing
Had an amazing trip to Cape Brett and the Hole in the Rock recently. Crew so friendly. Skipper Hamish was so knowledgeable and informative. Great to have that local input. Bluebell was attentive to customers the whole time. It was great to have a couple of island stopover included . It was an amazing day, beautiful weather and scenery. It was a very worthwhile trip and an excellent company to travel with. Will travel again with Island Getaway Tours.
We had the most amazing experience with Island Getaway Tours in the stunning Bay of Islands! From start to finish, everything was perfectly organized and unforgettable. The crew was friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the area. They shared fascinating insights about the local history, marine life, and hidden gems throughout the bay. The scenery was breathtaking: crystal-clear waters, secluded beaches, and lush green islands everywhere you looked. What really stood out was the personal touch. The team made sure everyone felt welcome and they took the time to talk to everyone. If you’re visiting the Bay of Islands, I highly recommend booking with Island Getaway Tours! 😊
Great tour on a not-so-great weather day! The skipper Hamish and crew Bluebell were excellent at setting the expectations for the day. Despite the rain and swell we made it to the Hole in the Wall, as well as enjoying the commentary on the history and nature surrounding the Bay of Islands area. The 2 island stops were great ! Robertson island afforded a magnificent view if you wanted to make the climb up the track. Otehei Bay was a relaxing stop - on a finer day I would definitely have taken up the swim and snorkel option. Highly recommend this tour !
Perfect half day activity in the area for the whole family! We did the 4.5 hour tour departing at 2PM in December and it was perfect! We stopped at two islands and went to see the hole in the rock. We were lucky with calm seas, inside the bay it’s very calm, once you approach the hole in the rock it’s the open ocean and the waves are bigger. When the seas are calm, the boat can go through the hole in the rock which is a fantastic experience. Not all boats can fit through the hole which is why going with a smaller boat is preferred, Island Getaway Tours fleet is smaller which allows them to do such. We booked last minute as we were waiting to see the weather and sea conditions. If you book last minute (same day) and order the lunch it might not be available. The experience was great but I would only do this in good weather if you get sea sick/motion sick. There is inside seating but it’s not as much fun as seating on the top and getting the 360 degrees views. The staff were amazing and we learned so much about the region! We saw a number of sea animals including dolphins. At one of the island stops there was a fish feeding activity. The staff also brought out snorkeling gear for those who wanted it. They run a tight ship, with the 2 island stops and the hole in the rock, stops are timed carefully and the boat departs on time. We had about 45 minutes on the first island and about an hour on the second island. If your goal is to chill on the beach consider a full day tour. Would recommend to get to the port early so you can be one of the first to board and seat outside on the top or the back of the boat. Bring cash to buy water on board. The restaurant on the second island accepted credit cards. It’s a good idea to bring drinks and snacks with you. Highly recommend! Thanks for the great experience :)
There are many choices for cruising the beautiful Bay of Islands, and we definitely chose the right one, for our family. The 4.5 hour cruise has something for everyone, and the smaller boat means you feel closer to the action and stunning scenery. The crew were truly amazing - great stories and history lessons, with the perfect amount of kiwi humour :) I am pretty sure their names were Nick, JT and Audrey.... and aside from always being there to take photos of/for us, they even snuck in a cheeky selfie!