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Welcome

Cruise the mighty Kaipara Harbour and Kaipara River aboard our 17m fun vessel the M.V. Kewpie Too.

We offer a range of cruises from three-hour river cruises all the way to  two-day harbour adventures retracing the routes of historic steamers from a bygone era and exploring the distant reaches of the Kaipara - the largest harbour in the Southern Hemisphere.

Just 45 minutes from downtown Auckland but a world away, with Kaipara Cruises you will discover the beauty of this

 mystical harbour - lush bush-lined rivers, deserted white sandy beaches and the spectacular West Coast, historic settlements.

 

 

• All prices include GST.

   

• Visit our map page to see exactly where the cruises go.

 

 

Our Cruises

 

 

Pahi River Cruises

    

Three-hour Riverboat Cruise

Kaipara Harbour Cruise to Pouto Point (8 hours)

The Great Kaipara Adventure - Helensville to Dargaville (10 hours)

The Great Kaipara Adventure - Dargaville to Helensville (10 hours)

Port Albert Easter Special (4.5 hours)

Club & Group Tours

 

 

Pahi River Cruises

 

 

DATES TO BE ADVISED

 

Join us on a 4 hour voyage discovering the beautiful native bush, Idyllic Bays and the magnificent Kauri of the Otamatea.

We cruise from Pahi through the Arapaoa River and into the Otamatea River, passing places rich in history such as Puriri Point, Batley, and Tanoa, to the historic Ranganui Rail Bridge before returning to Pahi. click here to see more

 

M.V. KEWPIE TOO IS LICENSED TO CARRY 100 PASSENGERS AND IS A COMFORTABLE SAFE VESSEL IDEALLY SET OUT WITH EXCELLENT TOP DECK VIEWING.

 

This cruise takes place in the totally enclosed, sheltered water of the Araparoa and Otamatea Rivers – this makes an ideal cruise for even the most dubious of sailors.

 

TEA, COFFEE & BISCUITS FOR SALE ON BOARD, B.Y.O. LUNCH

 

ADULTS $35.00

CHILDREN $15.00

Click here to see more

 

 

 

 

Three-hour Riverboat Cruise

 

Departs:  new dates due to demand Sat 21st Jan & Mon 6th Feb Waitangi Day  All other advertised dates are full

Be in quick

 

Leaving from Parakai, you will spend a relaxing three hours on the Kewpie Too exploring the tranquil rivers of the Kaipara River Valley. You will view the sites of

 

early kauri mills and bush camps now long gone while listening to the informative commentary, and also visit the beautiful bush reserve on the Kaukapakapa River where young kauri, kowhai and totara, among others, grow sheer from the waters edge along with a shag colony and other wildlife nesting on the river.          Excellent outing for your family, club or group.

Please note:  All our cruises can be adapted to suit your club or senior groups, special rates apply Mon-Fri. (minimum 30 passengers). Bookings available now -

COST:     Adults $20.00      Children $10.00

 

Phone 09 420 8466.

 

Kaipara Harbour Cruise to Pouto Point 

(8 HOURS)

Now booking for:

Dates 2012:

4th February 2012

5th February 2012

31st March 2012

1st April 2012

On demand for your club or group. A day trip with a difference.

Cruise the mighty Kaipara Harbour aboard the M.V. Kewpie Too, retracing the old steamer and sailing ship routes from Shelly Beach to the old marine station at Pouto Point. Explore the many bays where early gum diggers camped and giant windjammers waited for their cargos of kauri timber before returning to Shelly Beach.

Pouto Point is an excellent destination where we spend approximately three hours ashore. You can just relax swim and sunbathe, fish and explore the remote settlement of Pouto or stroll along the many miles of white sandy beaches. This is a sensational full day tour exploring the mighty West Coast beaches with their spectacular sand dunes and the tranquil waterways of the mystical Kaipara Harbour.

Tea, Coffee, and soft drinks for sale on board. BYO picnic lunch.

Trip duration approx 8 hours. Leaves from Shelly Beach Wharf, Shelly Beach (only 20 mins from Helensville). Informative commentary.

Departure and return times will vary each trip due to tide times. Bookings essential

 

COST:     Adults $35.00      Children $15.00

 

The Great Kaipara Adventure - Helensville to Dargaville

 

Click here for booking forms

Next Sailings: 18th Feb 2012

                                     3rd March 2012

                                    17th March 2012

                                    14th April 2012      

We invite you on a one day journey of discovery retracing the old steamer and sailing ship routes from Helensville to Dargaville through the historic Kaipara Harbour aboard our comfortable vessel, M.V. Kewpie Too and returning to Helensville by luxury Coach.

Departing from Helensville, we make our way cruising over sixty nautical miles through New Zealand’s largest inland sheltered waterways. We cruise through the Kaipara River as the barques and brigantines did in past generations before cruising into the harbour towards the Kaipara Heads, here you can almost touch the past as you examine the Kaipara’s former life, where more than a century ago ships from many nations came to trade for timber, flax and gum.

Crossing the Kaipara Heads to Pouto Point, you will see the magnificence of the two headlands with their white sandy beaches and the Tasman Sea beyond.  From Pouto, you will travel past lonely deserted bays many accessible only by boat where early gum diggers camped. We cruise past Ruawai and into the Northern Wairoa River, also steeped in our early history. During our cruise along the Northern

Wairoa River we pass many small towns and villages almost forgotten by time, to

arrive in Dargaville late afternoon.

Once in Dargaville, we join our luxury air conditioned coach for a relaxing journey back to your vehicle at Helensville.

Informative commentary on board Kewpie Too. Trip duration approx 10 hours.

 

COST:  $120.00 per person

 

The Great Kaipara Adventure - Dargaville to Helensville (10 hours)

• Dates 2012:
•                               19th February 2012
•                               4th March 2012
•                               18th March 2012
•                               15th April 2012

 

We invite you on a one day journey of discovery retracing the old steamer and sailing ship routes from Dargaville to Helensville through the historic Kaipara Harbour aboard our comfortable vessel, M.V. Kewpie Too and returning to Dargaville by luxury Coach.

Departing from Dargaville we make our way over sixty nautical miles cruising New Zealand’s largest inland sheltered waterways, through the Northern Wairoa River, as the barques and brigantines did in past generations.
During our cruise we pass many small towns and villages almost forgotten by time as we continue towards Pouto Point. Crossing from Pouto to South Head, you can almost touch the past as you examine the Kaipara’s former life, where more than a century ago ships from many nations came to trade for timber, flax and gum.

Crossing the Kaipara Heads from Pouto Point, you will see the magnificence of the two headlands with their white sandy beaches and the Tasman Sea beyond.  From South Head, you will travel past lonely deserted bays many accessible only by boat where early gum diggers camped. We cruise past Mosquito Bay, Shelly Beach and into the meandering Kaipara River, also steeped in our early history. We arrive in Helensville late afternoon.

Once in Helensville, we join our luxury air conditioned coach for a relaxing journey back to your vehicle at Dargaville.

Informative commentary on board Kewpie Too. Trip duration approx 10 hours.

 

COST:   $120.00 per person

 

Port Albert Easter Special- (4.5 hours)

           

DEPARTS: Port Albert Wharf 20 mins from Wellsford

Booking Now:  EASTER 2012  6TH - 11TH APRIL 2012

Join us on a 4˝ hour voyage of discovery exploring the historic inland waterways of the Kaipara Estuary, retracing the old steamer and sailing ship routes though sheltered scenic waterways of times gone by.

This cruise departs from Port Albert through the Oruawharo River to Otamatea River through to the new pristine sub-division at Takahoa Bay

before returning to Port Albert ~ sheltered estuary waters, this makes an ideal cruise for even the most dubious of sailors.

 

This cruise features:

 

• Old Kauri Mill Sites
• Maori Pa Sites
• Atiu Creek Regional Farm Park
• Sight Kaipara Heads, Pouto, Northern Wairoa River
• Tinopai and the Otamatea River
• Historic 1860 Batley Hotel
• Old Tanoa School House
• Takahoa Bay
• 1860 Gittos Mission Station
• Many bays and inlets accessible only by boat
• Birdlife, ecology and nature cruise
• Informative commentary Duration  4.5 hrs

 

COST:     $35.00 (adult) - $18 (child)

 

 

Club & Group Tours

 

• We specialise in Senior  Citizen Charters.
• Group bookings are available for any of our tours.
• Special discounts Monday to Friday.

 

Phone 09 420 8466 for more information or

e-mail Kaipara Cruises by clicking on the details below.

 

 

Telephone Fax Mobile Email Postal

(64) 09 420 8466 (64) 09 420 9661 0274 970 654 kaiparacruises@xtra.co.nz R.D.2 Helensville New Zealand