Hauraki Gulk Trip Details


Getting There

	Getting There Travel Tips This link to a NZ travel site should be helpful to you. When in the site, click on 'Travel Tips' for information on passport requirements, currency etc.

	Hauraki Gulf Trips Sailing trips for the Hauraki Gulf islands (and for the coastal sail from Auckland to the Bay of Islands) will normally leave from Westhaven Marina in Auckland Harbour which is a ten-minute taxi trip from the city centre. The specific location will be provided once all arrangements are made. If you are arriving from overseas you may need to arrive at Auckland Airport the day before and stay overnight at a hotel or motel close to the centre of town.

	Bay of Islands Trips a) Coastal sail starting from Auckland If the Bay of Islands trip includes taking the charter yacht from Auckland and sailing up the coast to the Bay of Islands then the departure details will be the same as for the Hauraki Gulf trip as outlined above. The Bay of Islands is approximately 240 kilometres north of Auckland. Although the coastal sail could be done non-stop in about 24 hours, it is more relaxing to take 3 easy days with overnight stops at Kawau Island and Tutukaka Harbour. b) Chartering a yacht already based in the Bay of Islands If the Bay of Islands trip involves chartering a yacht already based in the Bay of Islands, the departure is likely to commence from the Opua marina which is a ten-minute taxi trip from Paihia where most of the accommodation can be found. The specific location will be provided once all arrangements are made. For these trips starting in the Bay of Islands, if you are arriving from overseas you may need to arrive at Auckland Airport two days prior to the start of your sailing trip and stay the first night at an Auckland hotel or motel. The next day you would make your way to the Bay of Islands by coach, air or car and probably stay at Paihia for the night prior to your sailing trip. The following outlines some of the available transport from Auckland to the Bay of Islands: By Coach to the Bay of Islands If travelling by coach to the Bay of Islands you may need to spend your first night in Auckland close to the centre to be near the coach terminus as the first coaches leave between 8:00 am and 9:00 am for the scenic trip to the Bay of Islands. They arrive at Paihia at about 1:00 pm. Daily luxury express coach services are operated from downtown Auckland to the Bay of Islands by InterCity Coachlines and Northliner Express. For more information click on their names to link you to their web sites. By Air to the Bay of Islands If travelling by air to the Bay of Islands and need to overnight in Auckland it may be better to stay at a motel near Auckland airport. Daily flights are operated by Air New Zealand from Auckland airport to the Bay of Islands. The flight time is approximately 50 minutes. For more information click on their name to link you to their web site. The Bay of Islands airport is at Kerikeri, about 20 kilometres by coach or taxi to Paihia. By Rental Car to the Bay of Islands The Bay of Islands is about 4 hours drive from Auckland via the East Coast Highway or five hours if you travel via the west coast through Dargaville and the Waipoua forest (boasting the largest Kauri forest in NZ). You can pick up a rental car at Auckland airport on arrival. Most of the major rental companies including Avis, Budget and Thrifty have a service desk at the terminal. However, other than Budget, most do not have a depot at the Bay of Islands and your car could remain on hire while you are on your sailing holiday. Back to Top

It is best to stay near central Auckland on the night before your sailing trip starts so as to be handy to the marina for an early getaway. For central accommodation assistance try these links: NZ Tourism, Ki-wi, InNZ Travel and Jasons

You may wish to stay near the Auckland airport the night before you depart NZ especially if you have an early flight. The folowing links could be of assistance for airport accommodation: NZ Tourism, Ki-wi and InNZ Travel.

Bay of Islands

For the night before and for the last night at the end of your sailing trip it is best to stay within the township of Paihia and within an easy walk of the town centre. These NZ Tourism and InNZ Travel site links could be of assistance for Paihia accommodation.

After returning to Auckland you may wish to stay near the Auckland airport the night before you depart NZ especially if you have an early flight. The folowing links could be of assistance for airport accommodation: NZ Tourism, Ki-wi and InNZ Travel.

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