Sailing

With 15,000 km of stunning coastline and island-dotted harbours, New Zealand is perfect for a sailing holiday. Experienced yachtsmen can charter a vessel and embark on a sailing adventure, while amateur sailors can opt for a skipper and crew, and sit back and relax as the world slowly passes by. Skippered voyages and sailing tours range from leisurely cruise options with afternoon tea on the harbour, to several-day-long adventures on a maxi yacht. The boats range in character and speed from restored historic square-riggers, to award-winning vessels featuring the most advanced technology. Where to sail is up to you—you could start with the marine reserves before moving on to the Bay of Islands, Hauraki Gulf, and the Marlborough Sounds. The sheltered harbours and islands make for picturesque journeys before opening out to inshore cruising grounds. There are also several popular coastal journeys where you can moor each evening in a sheltered bay before heading onward at sunbreak. The east coast (north of Auckland, and en route to the Bay of Islands), Kerikeri Inlet and the fiord-like Whangaroa Harbour are particularly scenic routes.