We chose to spend 4 days in the Bay of Islands literally *on* the Bay of Islands and it was absolutely the right decision.
Russell & Karen have been sailing Northland for over a decade and they selected an itinerary that suited us perfectly:
- private times on private islands
- snorkeling pristine waters
- kayaking sandy bays
- dropping us at one spot to hike to a new pick up
... nothing was too much trouble.
Karen and Russell were excellent hosts: Gourmet breakfasts, warm salads for lunch and amazing dinners all prepared from scratch; we even got to sample freshly-caught snapper! We particularly loved the shade cover that kept our loungers out of the mid day sun, and the bean bags on the bow were the perfect spot for drying off after our frequent swims from the yacht. Our cabin (the "Captains Cabin" in the front of the boat) was comfortable, spacious enough, and had a private bathroom.
I highly recommend an overnight trip like the one we took: sink into that “chilling out” feeling while listening to the Chills (a local New Zealand Band).