Okay so if you’re into turquoise water, secret coves, and the kind of quiet that makes your shoulders drop without permission… you should probably come visit us. 🚤🌊 We’ll be out here hopping between islands that feel like they forgot the mainland exists. Swimming off the back of the boat, watching sunsets that look fake and living our best mildly-secluded, salty little lives. It’s peaceful. It’s wild. It’s “why do I even own real shoes?” energy. You’re absolutely invited. Just don’t blast it all over the group chat. We’re very attached to our “we discovered this ourselves” storyline. 🌴😌 Come join us. But let’s keep our secluded island era between friends, yeah?😁 #bayofislands #overnightcruise #privatecharter #northlandnz #teambuilding #boatlife #trending #newzealand #summer

It's not a seven course meal with wine pairings, tiny portions on a plate that you barely taste before you're done. It's hearty home cooked food. It's designed to give you energy, to feed your body and your soul (that's what the brownies are for!). It's good food with good company, to nourish you. And don't worry, we do have wine too ;)

Riddle me this... What do a coffee, a balcony, the ocean and a sunrise all have in common? You can find them all on board The Rock Overnight Cruise. So when are you coming to join us?

What a simple solution. I wonder why you never thought of it before? Ready to put it into action? Comment below and we'll send you the details.

Option one: You race through school pick up trafiic to get the kids, then sit in rush hour traffic to get them to their footy training. You sit in more traffic on the way home where you scramble together a meal that is kind of nutritious while battling mum guilt that you didn't make any of it from scratch. You get the kids showered, hair brushed, teeth brushed, read them a story and feel more guilt that you skipped some pages. They finally fall asleep and you collapse exhaused on the couch before dragging yourself up to do the dishes, clean the kitchen, find uniforms for tomorrow before you finally get to go to bed too. Option two: You cruise with us. Dinner is made for you. The kids are entertained. There's not another boat in sight and the evening is calm and peaceful. Night falls and the kids are excited to go to bed because it's in a bunk on a boat, and you have all the energy to sing them to sleep because you've relaxed all day. You wander downstairs to hear someone playing guitar gently while the waves lap at edge of the boat, the fire roaring, and a peace that you haven't felt in a long time settles into your soul. ..I know which one I'm choosing.

Not everyone has what it takes to jump off the top of a converted car ferry into crystal clear turquoise water. Do you...?

Don't tell everyone, cause we've only got so many beds on board, but we've got an awesome deal for you... Book direct with us online and we'll give you 20% off your whole booking. No matter if you book private room or shared room, solo traveller or a group...20% off the whole booking. There's no time to lose. Book online now.

If you're tired of daydreaming of an escape, and want to take the plunge (pun intended!) then it's time to book with us. Text the group chat, let them know you've seen the coolest place for the next group holiday, and then head to our website and secure your spot. We'll even give you 20% off just for booking with us, that's how much we want you to come experience this.

It doesn't happen on every cruise. We don't plan for it. The dolphins don't keep to a schedule. But every so often, we are lucky enough to have some of our marine mammal friends come and visit us while we are anchored in a secluded bay. Have you ever woken up to dolphins playing outside? Do you want to?

Between all of the crew, we have eaten breakfast in many different places around the world, but there is nowhere quite like The Rock for a breakfast spot. Calm water, sun shining, breakfast already made for you. What more could you ask for?

Every cruise, our awesome crew will take you snorkelling, where we can harvest some of these amazing looking delicacies. Locally known as Kina, they are a type of sea urchin, and they can be eaten raw as soon as your harvest them. Some folks like them on toast, and some just like to slurp them straight from the shell. Would you be keen to give them a go?

Imagine waking up to the sound of the piano floating up the stairs, the sun rising over the water and boat gently rocking beneath you. You take a minute to figure out where you are, why you feel so....relaxed. It's because you're here, with us. And we've got you. Sound like heaven? It's about the closest thing you can get to here on earth. So why not come and check it out? All of this is waiting for you.

Alright, we’re calling you out a little here 😏 There’s always that moment when you're cruising with us, where you’re standing on the edge of the boat, looking down at the water thinking “yeah… maybe in a minute.” You watch a few others go first. You laugh. You stall. You tell yourself you’ll do it later. And we’re just standing there like; go on then 👀 Because here’s the thing, the people who take the longest to decide are always the ones who come up smiling the biggest after. And we're not saying you have to jump off the top of the boat....though for the thrill seekers among you, you can give it a go! So consider this your official nudge from us, stop overthinking it and just jump. Are you actually doing it, or are you going to be the one holding everyone’s towel and regretting it later??

You don’t get moments like this on a big cruise No lines, no crowded decks, no waiting your turn. Just you, standing on the edge, heart thumping a little, staring down at water so blue it almost doesn’t look real. And then you jump. That split second of silence. The rush. The cold, clear water wrapping around you. The laugh when you come back up. This is what this trip is about. Not ticking boxes, not following a schedule, but those raw, real moments you didn’t even realise you were craving. Out here, the ocean isn’t something you look at, it’s something you’re part of. And once you’ve jumped in once, you’ll probably climb back up and do it again.

One step off the back of our boat, and you’re in the bluest water you’ve ever seen 💙 We've seen the change in our guests as soon as we get ot past the wharf. The sun is on your face, you feel the salt air on your skin, and when we stop for a swim, that first splash happens, and suddenly nothing else matters. You’re laughing, floating, diving under just to see that ridiculous clear blue turquoise from below. It's the kind of playing in water that makes you feel like a kid again, no plans, no pressure, just pure fun. Nowhere to be, no responsibilities, just fun. Time slows down out here. Or maybe you just finally get the chance to stop paying attention to it. There's no dinner to worry about, no homework to get done, no alarm to set. You just decide to stay in a little longer than you meant to, because why wouldn’t you? There's nowhere else to be. It’s easy, it’s light and it’s the kind of moment where life feels wide open and anything feels possible. This is what people come back talking about. That feeling.

It's not a seven course meal with wine pairings, tiny portions on a plate that you barely taste before you're done. It's hearty home cooked food. It's designed to give you energy, to feed your body and your soul (that's what the brownies are for!). It's good food with good company, to nourish you. And don't worry, we do have wine too ;)

Real Bay of Islands stories from the crew who lived them, the guests who never really left, and the couple who started it all with a rusted old car ferry in 1999. This channel follows the people who make The Rock special. Jonny Greener runs the Rock Adventure Cruise from Thailand. Erin started as crew and is now one of the skippers. Together they're telling 27 seasons of stories that no travel influencer has, the Bay of Islands as it actually is. What you'll find here: the Honey family who converted a 1965 steel car ferry into New Zealand's only overnight cruise. The crew who came for a season and stayed for years. The guests who got engaged here, swam in the ocean for the first time, came back with their kids, and call it the best 24 hours of their trip. Bioluminescence, Kina, Motuarohia (Roberton) Island, the cast iron stove and the manu competition off the side of the boat. If you want to know what the real Bay of Islands looks like then you're in the right place. Book your Rock experience: www.rocktheboat.co.nz Save 20% when you book direct just use code BOOKDIRECT20 #BayOfIslands #NewZealand #RockTheBoatNZ #OvernightCruiseNZ #BayOfIslandsThingsToDo #NewZealandTravel #NZAdventure #RealNZ

We depart from the Paihia wharf in the Bay of Islands. The wharf is located in the middle of town. You'll see a statue of a big Marlin - that's the start of the wharf. Walk about half way down and you'll find our blue "The Rock" sign. Pleas wait there our skipper and crew will greet you and check in you for your cruise. We depart at 5pm during day light saving (approx Oct - Mar) and 4pm when no day light saving (approx Apr - Sept)

Another one of our frequently asked questions. There are a couple of options with regards to parking before coming out and cruising with us in the Bay of Islands.

Here are the Rock Adventure Cruise we supply just about everything you need to cruise from Paihia and explore the Bay of Islands with us.