Information about the trips

If you are looking for some information about your trip and/or about what sort of gear to bring with you, this document will answer most of your questions.

NZSKA PreTrip Info and Gear

We Provide

All kayaking equipment

Including dry bags and paddling jackets.
Single and double kayaks are available, which are outfitted with comfy air pad backrests and deck bags.

Delicious meals

A point of pride for us. You’ll find the beachside dining one of the highlights of the tour. Great care is taken to organise and prepare terrific meals from locally grown fruits and vegetables with baked desserts and quality New Zealand meats provided.

On occasion a variety of fresh seafood caught during our tour will round out our sumptuous meals.
* Vegetarian meals also provided.

Note: Pre-tour information, which includes a detailed clothing and gear lists, plus local accommodation and transportation information will be sent upon receipt of your deposit.

You provide

Customers are asked to make a contribution toward meal preparation and various camp chores on a rotational basis.

Regarding personal camping gear, you will need to bring (or rent from us at $5/day/item) your own tent, sleeping bag, ground pad, and, if interested, snorkeling gear.

 

Map

How to get there

Getting to the start of the tour from Auckland

We recommend you arrive in Paihia no later than the afternoon before the trip. We hold an informal pre-trip meeting at 7pm the evening before the trip starts at the Saltwater Lodge Bar on Kings Road, Paihia.

DIRECTIONS

By Bus
From the Auckland International airport you can take the SkyCity (airport shuttle bus) to downtown Auckland. This service runs every half hour and takes approx 45 minutes. A number of other shuttles and taxis are also available. Mana Bus and Intercity both offer a morning and afternoon bus service to Paihia. Travel time is just over 4 hours. If travelling during Christmas, New Year or Easter holiday period, it’s recommended you book your bus tickets well in advance. Baggage storage facilities exist at the bus depots. Check their web sites for further details and bookings.
By Air
Air New Zealand offers a link service to Kerikeri (which is about a 25 minute taxi ride to Paihia). Flight time from Auckland is 45 minutes and cost varies approximately $100 – $175 depending on availability of special prices on the internet. Check their web site for flight schedules and prices as they tend to change. You can catch a shuttle from there to Paihia. Cost is $20 per person.
By Car
Many car rentals are available from Auckland airport. If you fly to Kerikeri see below the companies available in the Bay of Islands.

Northland Rental info@northlandrentals.co.nz
Available from Kerikeri only- no one way drop offs to Auckland.

Budget Rental Cars budgetkerikeri@xtra.co.nz
Pick up and drop off in in Kerikeri (25 mins from Paihia). One way drop offs can usually be arranged.

Where to stay

Accommodation
You will need to book accommodation for at least the night before and the night following the kayak trip. There are numerous motels, bed and breakfasts and hostels in Paihia. For quality and ease of logistics we recommend the following:
Hotels

Craicor Accommodation
Bed and Breakfast – A peaceful place to stay, settled in a bush and garden setting with sea views

Paihia Pacific Resort Motel

Central Paihia

Casa Bella Motel

Nice Mediterannean setting in central Paihia

 

 

 

Camp Ground

Bay of islands Holiday Park
A private, peaceful setting beside the Waitangi River. A few kilometres from central Paihia. Good if you have your own transport

Paihia Top 10

Nice camp ground by the water

Waitangi Holiday Park

Central Paihia

 

Backpacker Hostels –
Budget Accommodation

Pickled Parrot
theparrot@paradise.net.nz

Saltwater Lodge
saltwater.lodge@xtra.co.nz

Haka Lodge
www.hakalodge.com

YHA Bay of Islands Paihia
www.yha.co.nz

Get in touch with us
CONTACT US