South Pacific
New Zealand
North Island
Northland Region
Bay of Islands
Russell
Things to Do in Russell
Russell Tours
Tours and Tickets
See all things to do
Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands
5
Full view

Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands

By Phantom Sailing
Recommended by 99% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
from
$96.12
per adult
from
$96.12
per adult
Lowest price guarantee
Ages 0-86, max of 10 per group
Duration: 5h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English, Spanish
  • Use of Snorkelling equipment
Departure details
  • Russell Booking and Information, The Strand, Russell 0202, New Zealand Come to the Russell Wharf and look for the good looking red boat at the end of the Wharf on the left hand side (from the village).
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 219048P1
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
  • All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
What you can expect during your visit
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Community
Ask a questionWrite a review
  • Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
How much is Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands?
Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands price starts from $95.65. Discover and book Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands on Tripadvisor
What is the Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands cancellation policy?
Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands cancellation policy: All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties. Discover and book Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands on Tripadvisor
Which company provides Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands?
Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands is hosted by Phantom Sailing. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Phantom Sailing on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands on Tripadvisor
How much time do I need for Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands?
On average, this experience will take approximately 5h 30m. Discover and book Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands on Tripadvisor
If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 219048P1
About the operator

Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.

By: Phantom Sailing
595
paulsH5081WH
paulsH5081WH
00
Brilliant brilliant day …
Fab experience / day out / luncheon …only enhanced by seeing a pod of dolphins And the weather staying fine. Highly…
utosch
utosch
00
Nice trip with nice skippers
Robin and Rick are very nice persons woth a big experience in sailing around the world. They have a lot of intresti…
bilbo101
bilbo101
00
Top notch tour
Awsome time excellent lunch. I rate them at 11. Very experienced sailors. I was on a different tour same place dif…
robmcguinness2022
robmcguinness2022
00
Great day sailing
Rick and Robin are awesome, some of the nicest people you will ever meet and their sailing experience is second to …
wonderboy
wonderboy
00
Wonderful day on Bay of Islands
Superb small group trip on The Phantom. Rick, Robin and Jack were great hosts with many stories to tell of their sa…
wendylaws0n
wendylaws0n
00
Awesome Sailing
Great day trip on large 50ft yacht, lovely hosts, very knowledgeable about the local area/history, and wonderful ho…
T7087ACchristopherw
T7087ACchristopherw
00
Great Trip
Awesome hosts providing an authentic experience and a fantastic feed. Perfect day out, would recommend to anyone.
cathyf305
cathyf305
00
Great day out
Had a lovely relaxing day out on the boat. We had zero wind, but still enjoyed the company of our hosts on the boat…
ScardyC
ScardyC
00
A wonderful day!
We had a lovely day sailing with Rick and Robin. They were super friendly and informative. We had a lovely lunch a…
steveiswandering
steveiswandering
00
Best day out in forever.
This was such a great day Rick and Robin do an amazing job making us feel so at home. The lunch was all local produ…
juleslrichards
juleslrichards
00
Fantastic trip
Despite the iffy weather we had a wonderful sailing with Rick and Robyn. Great hosts. Very informative. So much sai…
JuzzyNZ
JuzzyNZ
00
Warm and wonderful hosts. Loved it.
What a fantastic experience. Could not have been better. Rick and Robin are wonderful hosts, so warm, friendly and …
KrisV625
KrisV625
00
Beautiful day on the water
Fantastic hosts, Rick and Robin, who each have at least 40 yrs of sailing experience. And made extra special by pod…
derekpat2020
derekpat2020
00
Excellent Day!
Rick and Robin were the perfect hosts. Knowledgeable sailors with lots of experience. A great boat and a sight-wor…
Barbara C
Barbara C
00
Fantastic Day on the Bay
This was such a wonderful day of sailing. Weather was perfect, and the crew and the accommodations were exceptional…
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
117 reviews
Excellent
115
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
RAC
Kent, UK31 contributions
Perefct day
Mar 2023
Fabulous day.

Phantom is old racing yacht with quite a pedigree, built for speed yet equipped for comfort, owned and cherished by the hosts.

Rick and Robyn are wonderful hosts with a lifetime of sailing experience skippering, cruising and racing yachts around the world which ensures a safe and real sailing experience beyond the usual tourist day trips. The real Mccoy. The small group size keeps the experience personal and special. The real bonus is if you are an experienced sailor yourself, expect to be fully immersed as you are handed the helm for much of the trip.

A fabulous outing for a fraction of the price of chartering your own boat - with lunch, commentary, boat management and pilotage thrown in for free!

Very highly recommended.
Written March 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Martin C
San Rafael, CA8 contributions
A fun day under sail
Jan 2023 • Couples
This was an all-round great trip out of Russell harbor with the owners/skipper, Rick & Robin on their 50' racing sail boat, "Phantom".

Highlight was sailing under a full sail on strong breeze out to Matukananui Island, and sailing on the jib on return.

The island stop was cool with an easy hike to the headland for fabulous views of this unique land mass. The simple paddling from the boat to shore in a light dingy was a reality check of the sailing experience. A opportunity to take a dip in the lagoons aswell.

We thoroughly enjoyed the food spread, all home made fresh cuisine a la Robin and the conversations with both who have deep knowledge & experience on the seas. Rick is a natural raconteur with one sailing story after another, and Robin adds her color of lifelong sailing.

Rick & Robin were warm and inviting, giving those with sailing experience the wheel under the skipper's eye. A lovely day out. Thank you.
Written January 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robin B
So delighted that you had such a lovely day out. This is what we strive to achieve. Thanks so much for this lovely review!
Written January 25, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MauiEva
Makawao, Hawaii52 contributions
A day with an old salt and an earth mama sailing in the beautiful Bay of Islands
Feb 2020
My husband and i spent a lovely day sailing on the Phantom with skipper Rick and his wife Robin. He is a remarkably experienced sailor and they have lived aboard their boat for 30 years. She made a delicious home made lunch of quiche, cheese and fresh baked bread, carrot sticks, orange slices and a plum tart. Oh so yummy! Robin said that the secret ingredient is that everything tastes better while sailing in the fresh air sea air but I think the secret ingredient is love. We stopped for a drop off on the beach of a beautiful small island where we could swim and/or hike up a hill with gorgeous views. My husband, who is an experienced sailor also was able to take the helm for our sail back to Russell. I highly recommend sailing with Rick and Robin; you will feel refreshed, relaxed, and well taken care of.
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robin B
So glad you enjoyed your day with us!
Written February 23, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cruiser24994516909
1 contribution
Unfortunate circumstances
Unfortunately we had a very poor experience with this company. Due to poor weather and rough seas our cruise captain found it too dangerous to tender to port. My family and I had been looking forward to this sailing trip for months as we had booked over 6 months n advance. I called the person I had been in contact with for the sailing trip as soon as the captain made an announcement and was told over the phone that I’d be receiving a refund as the cancellation was no fault of my own. My family was incredibly upset that we’d be missing the trip. A few days later as I waited for the refund to post I received a refund of less than 1/3 of what I had paid. I contacted the company again and was told that since we cancelled the day of the tour, that’s the only refund we’d receive. I’d understand this policy under different circumstances, but when a cruise line captain is saying the seas are too dangerous and rough to tender, you’d think that in the best interest of their passengers a sail boat captain would agree. I tried contacting the company again to resolve the disagreement and they refused to respond to further emails, so unfortunately I’ll be needing to leave this negative review.
Written January 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
RobinB690
It was very distressing to read this review as we were also anticipating this trip and we’re fully prepared for the outing including all the catering having been prepared. Our cancellation policy specifically states that the customer receives a full refund if we, the company, cancel the trip. This customer canceled the trip within two hours of the charter, after we had already confirmed, in email correspondence, that we were going. When the phone call came, cancelling the trip, we never told this customer they would receive a full refund - that is totally untrue. We had turned down 4 other requests for charter for that day, the 1st of January, the height of our busy season. however, out of kindness and in contrast to our policy, we returned 1/3 of their cost. We see this review as an attempt to smear our reputation which anyone can see enjoys great reviews. We are 2 licensed captains on board, operating for 24 years, and have always been relied upon to give up to date weather forecasts for the comfort and safety of our passengers and this trip was cancelled through no fault of our own. Perhaps the mobility of the majority of passengers on a cruise ship would have determined the captain’s decisions to cancel disembarkation, however, the same criteria do not apply to a 50ft sailboat. Several other sailing trips took place that day. We did not respond to the customer’s email because of its threatening tone. We look forward to having other travellers enjoying a great day on Phantom!
Written January 26, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrew J
London, UK1 contribution
Expert sailing in ideal if Bay of Islands
Feb 2020
I am returning satisfied client of Phantom Sailing. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour, experienced hosts Robin & Rick augmented by perfect weather and interesting mix of guests aboard. The best days sailing in perfect waters in capable hands - thoroughly recommend
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robin B
Great seeing you again Andrew - great compliment when someone comes back on another trip and brings along other friends or family - look forward to another visit in a few year’s time!
Written February 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Plumpest
Auckland, New Zealand26 contributions
Great day on the bay!
Jan 2023
We had an awesome day on the Phantom. Rick and Robin were wonderful hosts.
Robin directed everyone around the yacht and made sure safety was key during manoeuvres. Rick caught a Tuna and Robin added it to our lunch menu - which was delicious. The yacht is kitted out for all weather and when the rain hit there were plenty of rain coats or you could hang out in the spacious cabin.
We swam from the boat to Roberton Island and had a lovely walk up to the famous lookout.
All in all - a fantastic day out!
Written January 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Alex McLeod
3 contributions
Money well spent!
Jan 2022
Our family of 4 had a super fun day sailing aboard the Phantom. The Bay of Islands is the perfect spot to do something like this and the Phantom Yacht, helmed by Rick, Robin and Jackson maximised relatively lower winds to give us a great sailing experience. It was a memorable day including a stop at a beautiful island and homemade lunch. Money well spent!
Written January 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robin B
Always great to sail with families on board and with our own family indeed! Thanks so much for choosing Phantom!
Written January 25, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Victoria
2 contributions
A must do when you are in Russell
Jan 2021 • Friends
Our trip on Phantom was phenomenal, a real highlight of our Northland trip. We were made to feel fully welcome aboard Robyn and Rick's vessel and got to appreciate the beautiful interior of their living quarters... a little insight of how living on the boat would be. Seeing the beauty of Bay of Islands, from the water is a must. Robyn and Rick's expertise and passion for sailing is apparent and you can choose to be as involved as you please. We sailed over to a beautiful bay and Rick's interest and knowledge about local sea life and its preservation was clear. At the bay we swam the stunning lagoon and there was an opportunity to take a hike too. We were surprised with a spectacular visit from a pod of dolphins who came to the bay to feed. Just AMAZING!! Back on board we had a delicious lunch. The home . baked bread and slice were yummy. Thanks Robyn. The sail back gave us opportunities to relax and chat. It was just fantastic to hear about some of the adventures Robyn and Rick have shared traveling around the world. We were recommended this trip by friends and will definitely be back. Thank you so much for.a beautiful day. Vic and Nat.
Written January 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robin B
Wow! you've said it all - thanks for coming aboard Phantom!!
Written February 21, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charlie-Niagara
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada6 contributions
Sail away (for a day). Leave Russell and sail into the charmed Bay of Islands
Feb 2023
Wonderful sailing trip in one of the best cruising grounds in the world. Well organized with interesting shipmates and a real effort from the owners to get to know all their guests. Lovely swim to a quiet island and hike to the hill where Captain Cook looked out over the Bay of Islands. A great chance to hoist sails swap tails with an eclectic bunch of travellers and even helm this classic yacht. Prevailing Onshore breezes mean you will have a great sail. Rick and Robyn are lovely and knowledgeable hosts. Highly recommended.
Written February 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
simone g
1 contribution
Thank you
Everything was superb!!
From the morning sailing to the afternoon chill on the boat.
Rick, Robin and their son Jackson are a lovely family full of sea experience.
The lunch was unbelievable with the kawahi catched by Rick and cooked by Robin.
An experience unforgettable!!
Written January 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robin B
Thanks Simone! great having you on board.
Written January 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 112

Travelers also viewed

2023 Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands provided by Phantom Sailing