New Zealand - Explore on a Tall Ship

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New Zealand - GAP year favourite for all ages

GAP year or independant travel - if you are planning for your visit to New Zealand in the Southern hemisphere summer we think you should sail the coast on wooden brigantine Soren Larsen. See the land as Captain Cook did for the first time - from the quarter deck of a square rigger.

No New Zealand holiday is complete without a few days on Auckland's favourite Tall ship Soren Larsen. Sail the coast and explore the magical islands of the Hauraki Gulf and set sail Northwards to the Bay of Islands aboard this magnificently restored square rigger.

She offers a range of 3-5 day voyages sailing between Auckland - Hauraki Gulf - and The Bay of Islands. If you are travelling on your own it is a great way to participate in an adventure that attracts all ages and nationalities and there is so much to do and see each voyage seems longer than 3-5 days: Steering the ship, going aloft if you dare, forays ashore to islands and beautiful bays; snorkelling over some the world's best dive sites and learning about maori culture from a marine perspective, spotting wildlife from a vessel powered by the wind.

All New Zealand Voyages (Dec 2010- Mar 2011), itineraries, dates and prices

5 day Christmas Voyage - Hauraki Gulf from Auckland 23-28th December 2010

5 day Voyage - celebrate New Year 2011 and sail from Auckland to Bay of Islands

Our New Zealand Specialist - Square Rigger Soren Larsen

Brigantine Søren Larsen spends the Southern Hemisphere summer (Europe's winter) introducing guest crews to the breathtakingly beautiful North Island New Zealand coastline in her own unique style.

Tourism & Travel Award Winner

Søren Larsen has several won tourism awards for her fascinating journeys of cultural discovery and adventure, where you are the 'hands on' crew.

 1996 Tourism Auckland - Hauraki Gulf Development and Protection Award at the inaugural tourism awards  

 1999  Tourism Auckland Annual Awards – the ship won the 'Adventure and Experience' Category 

Haukari Gulf

East and north of Auckland lies the Hauraki Gulf, one of the finest sailing grounds in the world. The many islands and channels cover nearly 2000 square miles and are bordered to the east by the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island.

Winds are usually reliable and the many options available in a voyage plan mean safe and exciting square rig sailing is assured. The exact passage plan will be decided by the Master depending on wind directions. 

The Bay Of Islands

The Bay of 140 tranquil islands is steeped in the country's early history. Russell is the former whaling town which became the country's initial capital. Nearby is Waitangi, where the first treaty was signed between the British and Maori chiefs. The ship will often drop anchor at Roberton Island where Cook first landed in 1769, and overnight there, for this is one of the most significant places in the Bay and is a favourite anchorage. Today the whole area is a scene of overwhelming natural beauty whose passages and channels we shall cruise at our leisure. 

Some of the Highlights

Up the rigging

On arriving aboard you will be shown your berths, introduced to the crew, and signed on Ship's Articles as Voyage Crew members. Much of the first day will be spent introducing you to the ship and explaining the various routines, safety procedures and equipment and how the watch system works. For those who wish we try to give you a chance to be shown aloft in the rigging before we get underway.

Pohutakawa Trees on Waiheke Island

At Waiheke Island we find a secluded anchorage on the north east side at Hook’s Bay where the beach is normally deserted and the walk over the hill leads to the W.W.II gun emplacements. Native coastal forest surrounds this area of the island to Opopa Bay. Native pohutakawa trees line the deserted shore and an evening spent anchored under the southern stars makes one feel 1000 miles from urban civilisation, rather than just 30-40 miles from Auckland. 

Blue penguins & Kawau Island

 During the voyage we could anchor overnight at such places as Kawau Island where a walk across the island is well worth it. From the old Copper Mine to the colonial residence at Mansion House Bay built by Governor Grey in the 1850’s takes about 45 minutes, and the trail leads through grove of mature Redwood trees and other imported exotic species with a rich undergrowth of native ponga (tree ferns). At Mansion House Bay wallabies and peacocks roam the lawns and at dusk the native ‘waka’ a flightless swamp hen may be seen. At night the calls of the small Blue Penguins are heard and during the day they may be seen out fishing.

Tiri Tiri Matangi Island

Tiri is a designated Department of Conservation reserve where a pioneering revegetation programme has created a successful bird sactuary for rare and endangered species.

Great Barrier Island

If we call at Great Barrier Island we shall anchor near Port Fitzroy and spend a day there. The strenuous but rewarding hike to the top of Mt. Hobson takes 5-6 hours but the views are fabulous and the trail leads past the famous Kauri Damns and through native forests with many regenerated Kauri trees. There is an alternative walk from Forestry Bay to the pools at The Waterfall again leading through native forest. For bird watchers Banded Rails and the endangered Brown Teals are likely to be seen on ‘the Barrier’.
 

Poor Knights - one of the best dive sites in the world

The Poor Knights are a group of uninhabited islands named by Cook (as was much of the Gulf) which are now a Marine Reserve. No-one may land here but we can take the ship’s boats into the spectacular tunnels and caves which pepper the sheer cliffs and if there is time snorkel the clear waters which teem with snapper and parrot fish.

(photo: Lucy Hollis)

Cape Brett

At Cape Brett we stop to marvel at the famous Hole in the Rock - a huge natural archway created in the island off the headland before we lay a course south to into the Hauraki Gulf.

Great Barrier Island

If we call at Great Barrier Island we shall anchor near Port Fitzroy and spend a day there. The strenuous but rewarding hike to the top of Mt. Hobson takes 5-6 hours but the views are fabulous and the trail leads past the famous Kauri Damns and through native forests with many regenerated Kauri trees. There is an alternative walk from Forestry Bay to the pools at The Waterfall again leading through native forest. For bird watchers Banded Rails and the endangered Brown Teals are likely to be seen on ‘the Barrier’.
 

New Zealand Wildlife

Throughout the voyage we will see an abundance of sea bird life; Petrels, Gannets, Spotted and White Shags, Caspian Terns are common, and ashore on certain forest trails Fantails are seen and the Grey Warbler heard. The lookout’s perch at the bowsprit is a front row seat if we’re lucky to see the displays of Common and Bottlenose Dolphins who delight in dancing in our bow wave. This is a unique way of experiencing the Hauraki Gulf’s wonders that conventional tourism has missed.
 

What is the Sailing Like ?

On this cruise most nights will be spent at anchor as distances between the destinations are small, perhaps only 15-20 miles. We will usually weigh anchor early each morning and aim to arrive at our anchorage by early afternoon. We then use Søren's 17 ft inflatable for runs to the beach to explore ashore. The ship has sufficient sets of masks, fins and snorkels to allow everyone to swim from the ship in the warm waters around these islands.

Our sailing passage between anchorages may involve some motoring but also some quite intense sail handling. However sailing by day and stopping most nights allows those who would rather relish the amazing scenery to stand back and let the keener sailors get involved in handling the ship under sail. Everyone is involved in the duty watch system which will operate while we are under way and once we drop anchor the deck watch is undertaken by the permanent crew and you the Voyage Crew are free to explore ashore.

For those interested in the voyages of Captain Cook this voyage by traditional square rigger does offer a unique insight and historical perspective on that amazing period of discovery.

Weather

January and February is the best of the NZ summer and the weather is usually warm, with light cotton shirts / shorts are sufficient during the day and a sweatshirt with jeans for evenings. Most go barefoot on deck and swimming gear gets worn most days. A hat, sun block and sunglasses are essential protection from sun over water.