If you're looking for a relaxing day around the bays, then this is the trip for you. If you're looking for adventure and excitement then this is also the trip for you!!My husband and I had such a great time that we can't recommend the R Tucker Thompson day sail enough.

Skipper Steve and crew-mates Rob and Wayne were great fun and encouraged us to participate as much or as little as we wanted in day's activities. Highlights included climbing out over the bow of the ship, suspended in the rigging while dolphins swam below. We also climbed right up the mast which was thrilling!

Lunch was tasty and a vegetarian option was available (book in advance). We weighed anchor in a pretty bay and afterwards had the option of jumping off the boat and swimming to shore or hitching a ride on a motorised dinghy.

Best of all though was knowing that our ticket money was going towards a good cause - helping troubled teens learn leadership and teamwork skills through sailing. The crew were passionate about their cause and it felt good to have such an enjoyable day out and be able to support them in the process.

Best day trip in the Bay of Islands!!

One of the best experiences during our trip to new Zealand. We were the only couple to book a trip that day - so we had our own private charter tall ship!
The crew were absolutely wonderful - super friendly and just enough talk of "scurvy sea dogs" to keep it fun. They served delicious fresh scones for morning tea and chicken and salad for lunch.
We had the opportunity to get our hands dirty hoisting the sails. My brave husband climbed up the mast and I got to steer the ship for quite a while (I'll tick that one off the bucket list!)
All in all it was a wonderful way to see such a beautiful part of the North Island and I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area.

Just do it!!, if you want a fantastic day out in the Bay of Islands you won't be disappointed. We went out on the R Tucker with our 2 children (7 yrs and 9 yrs) and we all had a wonderful, memorable day. We got to climb the rigging and steer the ship and the crew were friendly and fun - also the weather was perfect for sailing (you can't take the credit for that though boys). The food was very tasty - and there was plenty of it, and the coffee wasn't instant! Sitting in the netting under the bowsprit with the dolphins surfing a few feet below us had to be the highlight. Awesome.

As an ex-pat living in NZ, I have to say that this was one of the best day-activities we've done. And it's a non-profit so you learn about their education programs and feel good about where your ticket money goes. We had perfect weather, which was not hard to come by this summer, and enjoyed hanging out on the deck, climbing the riggings, helping with the sails, eating (twice!), swimming, and chatting with the crew. Helpful to bring a towel and something dry in your bag if you want to swim. Can get chilly when the wind picks up--you're sailing, remember! The opportunity to be both on the water and the beach in the same trip was a nice combination. You really appreciate the islands from a different perspective. Getting back by 3:30 pm also means some time for relaxing/a swim before dinner.