I try to say “the best I’ve ever done” as little as possible. After all, how can everything be the best? But after five years travelling New Zealand top to bottom, I can say, without a doubt, that Barefoot Sailing Adventures is the best tour I have ever taken. We spent last Saturday exploring the Bay of Islands with Barefoot Sailing. The tour started at 9:45 am and Luke ferried everyone from shore to the boat so we didn’t get wet (5 stars for that alone!). He gave us a safety briefing, and it was clear from the get-go that he knew more about the Bay of Islands than anyone I’d ever met. As we sailed from Paihia toward Moturoa Island, Luke shared information about the area, its wildlife, and Barefoot Sailing’s commitment to sustainability. We learnt about Project Island Song, a conservation effort to restore wildlife to the islands - they donate a portion of each Island Hopper Day ticket to the project! One of the things that surprised me the most was the time and effort Luke put into getting to know us. Within the first hour he knew everyone's names (there were 16 of us!), where we were from and little details about our lives. He wandered around the boat, making a point of sitting down, chatting with everyone, and making sure they had everything they needed to have the best experience possible. We anchored up at Moturoa at midday and spent the afternoon swimming, snorkeling and paddleboarding. There was even time to do a short walk Luke recommended which took us across the island to a beautiful secluded bay. Meeting Carmen was another highlight of my day. She waved us off to shore with our packed lunches (nice touch!) and spent hours talking to each of the guests, sharing stories from her life and travels. She’s also “the hostess with the mostess”, bringing round tea, coffee, Milo and biscuits for morning tea and a selection of cold drinks in the afternoon. She is an asset to the Barefoot Sailing crew and by the end of our day, Carmen and Luke had started to feel more like friends than tour guides. If you’re considering an island tour while you’re in the Bay of Islands, PLEASE let it be this one. It’s so clear that Barefoot Sailing is a down-to-earth, Kiwi-owned business run by people who genuinely care about the area. Our cruise was outstanding from start to finish. Their hospitality, humour and passion for their work made the whole day magical and an experience I’ll remember forever. I’ll rave about it to anyone who will listen!

We had a great trip on Luke's catamaran, Moonwalker, sailing out from Paihia to one of the islands in the bay with just a small party of 5 other people. Luke was very attentive to his passengers, checking frequently that we were all ok, especially anyone who had a tendency to sea-sickness, but everyone was fine even though it got a little bouncy once or twice. He also gave out some info about the bay and the boat that was very interesting. The lunch pack provided was really good too.

We had a wonderful day sailing in the Bay of Islands out to the bird sanctuary island. Mid-spring is windy and cool, but ponchos and warm drinks sustained us for a great day. Simple but satisfactory lunch was served on reaching the island. Great sailing skills the whole way.

This was such a fun trip. The captain, Sarah, was so funny and had so many great stories, and the crew person, Michelle, was so helpful and informative. The trip was so relaxing, and the scenery was beautiful. We spent two hours on the island of Moturua, which gave people the opportunity to snorkel, hike, paddle board, or just relax on the beach. I highly recommend this tour if you are in Bay of Islands.

We were surrounded by international travellers all eager to have a fun day on the water. Our captain Luke and Carmen set the mood with their humour and interesting facts about the area. We could participate in sailing or relax on the bean bags. I chose bean bags. We headed to an island to snorkel, swim, walk or paddle board. The day flew. Lots of chuckles and interesting conversations. Thank you

We had an absolutely amazing day out with Barefoot Sailing. Our group aged from 6 to 75 all had a fantastic time. The Skipper was great, chatty and fun and great with the kids as well as being really informative, but also giving us time to relax and enjoy the peaceful scenery too. Great packed lunch and hot drinks served too. One of the kids said it was the best packed lunch ever! We would definitely recommend the Lagoon Bay cruise to anyone.