Treasure Islands of Auckland - 5 Night Luxury Cruise

Your Island Passage adventure begins when you board the ship late Sunday afternoon for a 5pm sailing. On the way to our anchorage for the night, the ship glides past the volcanic island Rangitoto. A few decades ago this island was a barren landscape of tumbled basalt lava; today it supports New Zealand’s largest pohutukawa forest and prolific birdlife. Your first night aboard Island Passage will be spent at anchor in Home Bay, Motutapu Island. The next day provides the opportunity to explore Motutapu or neighbouring Waiheke Island. Begin with a refreshing ocean swim, enjoy a sumptuous breakfast on the deck, then choose the morning’s activity. Options include a guided walk on Motutapu, or an indulgent Waiheke wine experience. Beachcombing on these islands is the perfect start to your adventures.

Motutapu Island on foot - Our walking tour of Motutapu was designed with assistance from the Motutapu Restoration Trust, a volunteer organisation that is “breathing new life into an ancient landform”. Your exploration of this remarkable island will be enhanced by interaction with a knowledgeable guide.

Waiheke Wine Time - A vineyard discovery tour will introduce you to the island’s famous cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and malbec. Waiheke’s clay soils have a layer of ‘rotten rock’ beneath, which helps to produce complex, intense red wine.

The Final Frontier - Half the size of Singapore, but with no electricity and a population of just 850, Great Barrier Island is the guardian of the gulf. It shields the inner islands, while taking a pounding from the Pacific Ocean on its eastern side. Fitzroy Harbour, on the sheltered side of the island, is one of the country’s most naturally-gifted harbours - the water is deep right up to the shore, making it possible to anchor and tie the stern to a pohutukawa tree. The island has a colourful history involving whaling, gold and silver mining, shipwrecks and alternative lifestyles. Today a passion for conservation connects the residents, who believe (with good reason) that they’ve found heaven on earth. More than 120 kilometres of walking tracks let you connect with Great Barrier Island’s wild spirit.

The Glenfern Sanctuary Guided Walk - This will give you a special insight into the natural world of Great Barrier Island. The sanctuary, which is on the Kotuku Peninsula near Port Fitzroy, has an extensive network of walking tracks. A highlight is the swing bridge that enables you to climb into the crown of a 600-year-old kauri tree. Places of interest The Kaiaraara kauri dam is a relic from the island’s forestry days. Constructed entirely from kauri logs, it has a ‘trapdoor’ that opens to let the water and logs pass through. The hot pools in Kaitoke Creek are another goal to aim for when planning your Great Barrier hikes.

Coastal explorations are actively encouraged on Island Passage. You can do it the fast way, in one of our high- powered tenders, or you can slip into a sea kayak and enjoy the tranquillity of a paddling tour. And then there’s the fishing – you catch ‘em, we’ll cook ‘em. Island Passage entering Port Fitzroy, Gt Barrier Island You’ll awake to the extraordinary beauty of Fitzroy Harbour, your launching pad for two days of soft, medium or hard adventure on Great Barrier Island. The choices are many: forest hiking to the kauri dam, Kaitoke hot springs or the summit of Mount Hobson; a peaceful kayak tour on the pristine waters of the harbour; a trip to Miners Head in one of our tenders; fishing at a spot known only to the locals; seabird photography from a chair on the deck. We’ll help you to find outdoor entertainments that suit your interests and fitness level.

Your expedition concludes with two islands that couldn’t be more different. Kawau’s character rests on the historic shoulders of Sir George Grey, who owned the island from 1862 to 1888. Tiritiri Matangi represents the glory of conservation success – an eroded farm that has been ecologically restored. Island Passage arrives back in Auckland at noon on Friday.

Colonial Elegance - Kawau Island is almost bisected by the long inlet of Bon Accord Harbour which is geologically a ‘drowned valley’. Within this sheltered haven there are many attractive bays, however Mansion House Bay is the most remarkable. Here you can tour Sir George Grey’s stately home, then stroll along the road that Grey’s carriage (pulled by two zebras!) used to take. From the historic coach road, a track leads to the picturesque ruins of an underground seashore copper mine. Another great Kawau walk is the Redwood Track, which reveals an interesting collection of exotic trees planted by Grey – redwoods, Australian bush cherry and bunya-bunya pines, to name just a few. A visit to the yacht club will uncover some interesting local characters, and you’ll find that the fishing around Kawau is most rewarding.

Welcome to Bird Land - Tiritiri Matangi is one of New Zealand’s most important and exciting conservation projects. An ecological restoration process that began in 1984 has transformed the island from eroded farmland into a sanctuary for rare birds. This island is a twitcher’s dream come true. A network of walking trails lets you explore a range of beautiful natural environments. Highlights include encounters with takahe, the rarest of NZ’s flightless birds; and kokako, which were on the brink of extinction. Nectar feeding stations are usually a frenzy of bellbirds – interrupted regularly by much-larger tui. Fantails enjoy leading you along the higher tracks, where bright green kakariki parrots also like to hang out. At Hobbs Beach, penguin nesting boxes are occupied in spring. Department of Conservation volunteers are available to lead your walk around this beautiful island sanctuary.

Please take the time to view our “Virtual Tour” for the 5 nights Treasure Islands of Auckland Cruise  or download/print the detailed “Tour Dossier”. Both can be found on the right hand column of this page. Alternatively you can simply contact us. For a comprehensive list of all activities available in each location featured in this tour, please refer to the "Destination Guide" found at the top of this page.