Boat Cruises

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Boat Cruises

The Fiords Are Where It's At

For my money, the best boat cruising in NZ happens in Fiordland, and specifically on Doubtful Sound. It's quieter than Milford, there's a daily cap on visitor numbers, and if you're in a campervan and can get yourself there early, the first sailing is both cheaper and way less crowded than the buses rolling in from Queenstown. At Milford, my pick is the cruise that heads out to the Tasman Sea - same price as the others but you get a proper look back into the sound on the return. Worth the extra distance.

Cymen Crick's avatar

Promo code RANKERS - good deal done!

Beyond the Fiords

Kaikoura is the other one I'd go out of my way for. The whale watch tour out of there is world class - first sailing tends to be the calmest, which matters more than you'd think. Up in the Marlborough Sounds, if you want sheltered water and fewer big ferry wakes, departing from Havelock on the Pelorus Sound mail run is a much better vibe than Picton. And in the Abel Tasman, the full park cruise is worth doing over a half-day option - 3.5 hours and you actually see the place properly.

There's good cruising scattered across the country too - from wildlife cruises out of Dunedin to the glass-bottom boat around the Coromandel and the old steamship out of Queenstown that pairs with a high country farm dinner. The promo code RANKERS gets you a discount on a good number of these - Doubtful Sound day cruises, whale watching in Kaikoura, the Queenstown steamship, and more - so it's worth having it in your back pocket.

153 items with the highest ranking score first, showing page 1 of 6.

South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷

4.9 6 reviews

Tiny

North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷

4.9 7 reviews

Cave Cruzer takes your fun seriously. Book an exhilarating tour experiencing the best thrills & excitement while sightseeing Cathedral Cove...

Tiny

South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷

4.8 47 reviews

albatross, penguins, seals & much more

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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷

4.8 26 reviews

Explore beyond the Glaciers with Franz Josef Wilderness Tours. The best of Franz Josef Glacier is at your fingertips…

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Million dollar cruise Lake Wakatipu

South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷

4.8 8 reviews

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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷

4.8 5 reviews

South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷

4.8 4 reviews

North Island ▷ Northland ▷

Sailing R Tucker Thompson

Fullers Bay of Islands

4.8 43 reviews

A chance to go sailing on a working tall ship in one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand, the Bay of Islands. Better still, with profits...

North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷

4.8 20 reviews

North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷

4.8 11 reviews

Tiny

North Island ▷ Northland ▷

4.8 9 reviews

Breathtaking scenery and diversity in nature that is found nowhere else in the world, unique and endemic species thrive above the water line and...

South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷

4.7 23 reviews

Matiu/Somes Island

North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷

Matiu/Somes Island

Wellington Harbour

4.7 4 reviews

8 km return | 2-3 hours return

South Island ▷ West Coast ▷

4.7 4 reviews

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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷

4.7 89 reviews

Give in to the wilderness, and escape to the secluded Pātea Doubtful Sound, located in the depths of the Fiordland National Park.

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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷

4.7 81 reviews

Hukafalls Jet is the only jet boat company permitted to take you right to the base of the mighty Huka Falls, New Zealand’s most visited natural...

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The Rock is a unique vessel based in the Bay of Islands.

North Island ▷ Northland ▷

4.7 66 reviews

The Rock is NZ’s biggest houseboat. Purpose built for cruising in the Bay of Islands she is a warm, homely & stable. The Rock is suitable for...

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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷

4.7 10 reviews

M.V Tiri Cat at Ship Cove

South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷

Beachcomber Fun Cruises

Mail Boat Cruise Picton

4.6 80 reviews

Boat Cruises in New Zealand's prestigious Marlborough Sounds

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Tiny

South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷

4.6 27 reviews

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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷

4.6 2 reviews

South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷

4.6 2 reviews

South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷

4.6 2 reviews

North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷

4.6 2 reviews

South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷

4.6 2 reviews

Eco Wanaka Adventures - Lake Cruise & Island Nature Walk

South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷

4.6 2 reviews

  • 10% Off
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷

4.6 2 reviews

South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷

4.5 284 reviews

Cruise beautiful Lake Manapouri with RealNZ and explore the wilderness of Doubtful Sound

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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷

4.5 42 reviews

South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷

4.5 15 reviews