Bay of Islands
Paihia -- Russell
Bay of Islands
New Zealand
Freewind Sailing
After 10 seasons of sailing in the Bay of Island, Freewind is setting sail to the South Pacific and will no longer be chartering in the Bay of Islands.
Watch this space for more info on future operations and thank you for your support.
The Bay of Islands, Northland
New Zealand's best cruising grounds.
The Bay of Islands, in the far north of New Zealand, is known as one of the best cruising grounds in the southern Pacific.
With so many islands and bays to choose from, there is always a sheltered anchorage to stop, go ashore, or spend the night at.
Sail past historical Waitangi and Russell, watch the seabirds and dolphins, or collect mussells off the rocks for a good feed - it's all part of the rich history and culture you will discover on your Freewind adventure in Northland's Bay of Islands.
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Ron, your skipper, has enjoyed sailing in the Bay of Islands for over 40 years, and is a wealth of information on the natural and historical features of this unique area. Freewind supports the current conservation efforts which include the reforestation of the islands and re-introducing bird species to the islands.
The islands of the bay are a nature reserve, where work is under way to restore the forest and unique native bird life, including the Kiwi.
Wake up to the sound of the morning bird chorus or pick one of the many walking tracks for amazing views of the bay.
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The NZ Department of Conservation and local Bay of Islands communities are working together to bring native birds back to the Bay. Click to find out more about Project Island Song.
How to get to the Bay of Islands?
You can't miss it - just follow State Highway 1 north from Auckland, turn right at Kawakawa (on SH 11) until you reach Paihia.
Accommodation
You'll find plenty of choices for accommodation in and around the Bay of Islands - campgrounds, friendly backpacker hostels and comfy motels and lodges.
Reservations recommended during peak holiday season.
Find more about the Bay of Islands here:
Some of the wildlife we encounter daily on our Freewind Bay of Islands cruises
Gannet Little Blue Penguin Bottlenose Dolphin Pied Cormorant