Great Escape
Great Escape
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
Escape from ordinary and set sail with us. We have a fleet of well-maintained Kiwi yachts for sailing adventures in the beautiful Bay of Islands. Those new to sailing can take our learn-to-sail then sail-yourself adventures, or try sailing with the two-day introduction adventure. With all our adventures you have a boat and an instructor to yourselves. Experienced sailors can cast off on a bareboat charter, an instructor can join you aboard on day one to refresh skills and share the secrets of sailing in our world reknown cruising ground. Great Escape is an authorised Yachting New Zealand and International Yacht Training sailing school. Certified to operate under Maritime New Zealand regulations. Our instructors are all experienced passionate sailors with thousands of ocean miles under their belts. Come sail with us.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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5.0
216 reviews
Excellent
202
Very good
11
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Dan_Waterston
Nanyuki, Kenya8 contributions
May 2022 • Family
We did the 6 day ‘learn to sail’ package as a family (me, wife & 2 daughters aged 7 & 10) on board a Nolex 25 (the Persephone). The 3 days tuition with Martin was exceptional, and the great thing about New Zealand weather is we got a little bit of all conditions (Sun/ rain/ strong wind/ light wind/ swell/ calm etc for about 30 minutes at a time!) to really dial in our experience and make us feel well equipped!
Casting off on our own and mooring up in beautiful beaches out on the islands for 3 days was a real family adventure, and one that we’ll definitely want to repeat- I think we’ve got a new hobby! It also really consolidates the learning, and I think is a fantastically mature way of structuring a course- I imagine it’s not without risk to them, and yet they encourage self reliance whilst maintaining an appropriate arms-reach safety net. For what you get, the packages offered by Great Escapes are exceptional value for money, and I would recommend to anyone.
Casting off on our own and mooring up in beautiful beaches out on the islands for 3 days was a real family adventure, and one that we’ll definitely want to repeat- I think we’ve got a new hobby! It also really consolidates the learning, and I think is a fantastically mature way of structuring a course- I imagine it’s not without risk to them, and yet they encourage self reliance whilst maintaining an appropriate arms-reach safety net. For what you get, the packages offered by Great Escapes are exceptional value for money, and I would recommend to anyone.
Written 6 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review, your great comments and positive rating arevery much appreciated. We also really appreciate your comments on the course structure as we belive that to develop skills and competence you need to spend time on the water out sailing. The sail yourself element of our adventure gives you this opportunity to conslidate your new skills.
We're so glad you enjoyed your family sailing adventure and sorry for getting you hooked on a new hobby :-) (welcome to the sport for life).
We look forward to welcoming you back aboard again soon.
Written 9 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RotoVegasMotel
6 contributions
Jan 2020
We returned to the Bay for another week sailing adventure. Fun was had by all, some fish caught, lots looked at and dolphins even popped in. Great Escape delivered excellent service and a well maintained boat and were on hand when we were out at sea to give advice as needed. Thank you Great Escape we will return and will hopefully get some of our friends to attend your two day sailing course so they too can join our next sailing adventure!
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for taking the time to write a review for us, it is very much appreciated. We love it when our returning sailors come back to sail with us, it is like catching up with old friends, thank you. We look forward to seeing you again soon, I'm sure the dolphins will pop by to say hello too!
Written 26 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Leon
2 contributions
Feb 2022
We recommend without hesitation the IYT International Bareboat Skipper and Yachting New Zealand Level 3 sailing course with Captain Amanda Swan at Great Escapes. From the first enquiry to the follow-up after our trip, Julie kept us fully informed on every detail. Our experience during the course with Captain Amanda Swan was beyond our expectation; both in terms of the practical sailing experience and the way in which it was delivered. Amanda’s sailing experience is undeniably world-class, however it was not just her knowledge, but the way in which she imparted her experience that made this course more than special. Amanda’s knowledge and approach made this course not only enjoyable and practical, but an outstanding experience that we will stay with us for a long time.
Written 5 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review, your positive comments, and the great rating. We are so pleased you had a great experience sailing with us.
We feel very privileged to be able to operate in such a beautiful sailing area and our team really enjoy sharing their expertise and passion for sailing.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard again soon.
Written 7 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tom
2 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
This is the second time we ve chartered from Great Escape. Bill and Julie make sailing in the bay of islands accessible, affordable and stress free, offering well maintained, good quality charter boats.
The team is well organsed so that you can take the boat away in the morning, on the first day and return it at the end of your last days charter, maximising the time you have the boat.
The team is well organsed so that you can take the boat away in the morning, on the first day and return it at the end of your last days charter, maximising the time you have the boat.
Written 20 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write us a review and your great rating. The team work hard to ensure you have a great sailing holiday and your positive feedback is really appreciated.
So glad you enjoy being out in the beautiful Bay of Islands and had a good time on our boats, we look forward to having you come to sail with us again.
Written 4 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Yoli
Island of Malta, Malta111 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
It was recommended by my colleague after he did a well sailing and really is amazing.
It was very easy to book in and Julie sent everything and explained all my questions. She welcomed us on our first day and is such a lovely person.
Unfortunately we have bad weather ahead but she so kindly told us we can reschedule and enjoy the one day we have with the good weather before the bad weather comes. She was so thoughtful as we bought the Linen package (highly recommended) and inside were some lovely warm blankets.
Our tutor Martin was amazing! Within a day he gave us so much knowledge! He was very patient with us and guided us so professionally. He is by far the best tutor I have ever had for sailing and is so clear in explaining the techniques and ways of sailing.
We were given a booklet for sailing and a good lesson on chart reading and so much more info needed for sailing. The boats are maintained very well and we had everything we needed.
This company is very Profesional and gives a good amount of information for everyone to become sailors and enjoy adventures.
We look forward to coming back again to this amazing place! But a huge thank you to Julie and Martin for making our first day/night so 👏 amazing!
Highly recommended for anyone!
It was very easy to book in and Julie sent everything and explained all my questions. She welcomed us on our first day and is such a lovely person.
Unfortunately we have bad weather ahead but she so kindly told us we can reschedule and enjoy the one day we have with the good weather before the bad weather comes. She was so thoughtful as we bought the Linen package (highly recommended) and inside were some lovely warm blankets.
Our tutor Martin was amazing! Within a day he gave us so much knowledge! He was very patient with us and guided us so professionally. He is by far the best tutor I have ever had for sailing and is so clear in explaining the techniques and ways of sailing.
We were given a booklet for sailing and a good lesson on chart reading and so much more info needed for sailing. The boats are maintained very well and we had everything we needed.
This company is very Profesional and gives a good amount of information for everyone to become sailors and enjoy adventures.
We look forward to coming back again to this amazing place! But a huge thank you to Julie and Martin for making our first day/night so 👏 amazing!
Highly recommended for anyone!
Written 5 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write us a review and your positive rating.
We are so glad you had a great day out and appreciate the comments you've made around the pre-trip preparation, our professionalism, and your instructor - we are very lucky to have such a great team of experienced instructors who genuinely love to share their passion for sailing.
We are looking forward to seeing you again soon so you can complete more of your sail training and enjoy sailing in our beautiful Bay of Islands.
Written 5 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tasi A
Auckland, New Zealand88 contributions
Jan 2021 • Couples
My husband and I just completed Great Escape’s 5 day learn to sail course and can’t recommend them highly enough. We learnt so much in only 3 days with Darryl & Bill and are now hooked on sailing and booked in for more! Very professionally run operation with Julie & Bill at the helm. What an asset to our NZ tourism industry, both domestically and internationally. Thanks so much.
Tasi & Adrian Hill, Auckland NZ.
Tasi & Adrian Hill, Auckland NZ.
Written 20 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write us a review and we are so pleased you had a fantastic time with us. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to seeing you back here again soon.
Written 21 January 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anton O
Wellington, New Zealand12 contributions
Jul 2021
We rented Raven 31 from Great Escape for my birthday trip with family. I was not new to sailboats, but never skippered a yacht myself before. My family's prior experience was only a few hours as passengers on a bigger sailboat.
Julie organised all the paperwork well in advance, so once we arrived, the boat was ready to go, waiting for us next to the little wharf near the Great Escape office.
Bill, our instructor, spent the first full day with us, showing us all of the boat's systems and features. Then we went through a safety briefing and comprehensive list of sailing, mooring, and docking exercises to make us familiar with ropes, boat handling, motor operating etc.
I've been on various sailing courses before, and I can tell, that Bill's explanation and training was great.
Despite being ok to go ourselves by the end of day 1, my wife and daughter asked to learn more from Bill the next day. So, we went for navigation basics and more safety drills for half a day on day 2.
Before lunch, Bill also gave us great advice about where to go fishing, spear fishing and snorkeling and sightseeing.
In the afternoon of the second day we left Russel to spend four and half days exploring the wonders of the Bay of islands.
Raven 31 was a great boat to stay on for a family of four. Mum and dad stayed in the front cabin with V berth and kids were seeping in the salon. The salon had a lot of spare space in rear double bunk, to store our fishing and snorkeling gear.
In four days we experienced a variety of weather conditions. Ranging from glassy days, to 20 knots of wind during the night anchoring. We felt safe and in control through the whole journey.
We made a couple of great snorkel dives and a big walk around the beautiful Urupukapuka Island. We decided to have our adventure in mid winter. Not the most popular time to visit the Bay Of Islands. However, that gave us luxury of having the whole island to ourselves. 4 hours walk in pristine landscapes with breathtaking views and knee high grass to fall into.
Definitely coming back ASAP and renting a boat from Great Escape again, as we feel, we only explored a tiny bit of the Bay Of Island wonders.
Julie organised all the paperwork well in advance, so once we arrived, the boat was ready to go, waiting for us next to the little wharf near the Great Escape office.
Bill, our instructor, spent the first full day with us, showing us all of the boat's systems and features. Then we went through a safety briefing and comprehensive list of sailing, mooring, and docking exercises to make us familiar with ropes, boat handling, motor operating etc.
I've been on various sailing courses before, and I can tell, that Bill's explanation and training was great.
Despite being ok to go ourselves by the end of day 1, my wife and daughter asked to learn more from Bill the next day. So, we went for navigation basics and more safety drills for half a day on day 2.
Before lunch, Bill also gave us great advice about where to go fishing, spear fishing and snorkeling and sightseeing.
In the afternoon of the second day we left Russel to spend four and half days exploring the wonders of the Bay of islands.
Raven 31 was a great boat to stay on for a family of four. Mum and dad stayed in the front cabin with V berth and kids were seeping in the salon. The salon had a lot of spare space in rear double bunk, to store our fishing and snorkeling gear.
In four days we experienced a variety of weather conditions. Ranging from glassy days, to 20 knots of wind during the night anchoring. We felt safe and in control through the whole journey.
We made a couple of great snorkel dives and a big walk around the beautiful Urupukapuka Island. We decided to have our adventure in mid winter. Not the most popular time to visit the Bay Of Islands. However, that gave us luxury of having the whole island to ourselves. 4 hours walk in pristine landscapes with breathtaking views and knee high grass to fall into.
Definitely coming back ASAP and renting a boat from Great Escape again, as we feel, we only explored a tiny bit of the Bay Of Island wonders.
Written 7 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a comprehensive positive review. We are very happy you and your family had a great time aboard one of our Raven 31s and that you learnt such a lot from Bill.
Well done on coping with all the challenges of a winter charter and as you noted the reward for being out at this time of year is having all the wonderful islands and beautiful bays to yourselves.
We enjoyed meeting you and your family and look forward to welcoming you aboard again soon. Thank you for choosing to sail with Great Escape Sailing.
Written 12 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kmcMaryland
Maryland3 contributions
Feb 2021
Julie and her team were superb: excellent communication throughout leading up to the 2 day introductory course, true professionals who care deeply about sailing and passionate about teaching and sharing their expertise and experience with all age groups. Darry, our instructor, kept our teen-agish kids engaged (ages 14 and 12) and empowered them to take charge. So many valuable life lessons for us, individually as well as a collective family unit. I've been telling my co-workers and friends about the rich experience. Can't wait to return for a longer trip!
Written 16 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review and your positive comments, we really appreciate it.
We're very happy you and your family had a great time and learnt a lot. Sailing together teaches you many skills besides sailing! And it a wonderful way to spend time together.
We look forward to having you come to sail with us again.
Written 17 February 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
clare h
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia2 contributions
Jun 2022
We absolutely loved our 3 day course with Josh, a very experienced sailor who taught us so much in a very short space of time, and was able to pitch the tutoring to suit all four of us (2 adults, 2 kids 11 and 12 years old) with different to no sailing experience and expectations. Our bareboat days (even in mid winter) were idyllic, a perfect combination of sailing, swimming, snorkelling and hiking on the islands in the bay and we felt fully immersed in the beauty and nature. Bill and Julie's love of sailing and care for their charter boats and their customers was so evident and we really enjoyed their relaxed and friendly approach, and the fact that they really went out of their way to help us have the best experience possible. I'd recommend this to families wanting something a little different out of a holiday, explore a stunning part of New Zealand. Come with a can do and open minded attitude, and be willing to work hard but for much reward - highlights for us (aside from learning how to handle a boat ourselves) were swimming and snorkelling with rays and other sea life, spotting dolphins, penguins in the bays and (if you're lucky as we were) maybe a shark sighting, hiking on the protected islands and hearing and spotting stunning rare New Zealand bird life all around you and anchoring alone in a sheltered idyllic bay with the feeling of being away from it all. We will definitely all be back!
Written 17 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to put together such a lovely comprehensive review for us, it is very much appreciated. Our team really do want to share the joy of sailing by yourselves in the beautiful Bay of Islands and we are so pleased you had such a wonderful experience. This is such a special part of the world.
We look forward to welcoming you back aboard again soon.
Written 12 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Riki
1 contribution
Jan 2023 • Family
An amazing unforgettable experience to enjoy with the family. I took my 9 year old and 8 year old for the 2-day course, and it was the rare time they didn’t badger me to get on iPad instead.
The process from the initial point of contact emailing Julie (a bunch of) questions, all the way to the end, was pleasant. Our instructor Laura was amazing, she asked about our goal for the course and tailored the days to give us a great experience. She was great with the kids, talking and joking with them, and teaching us all the basics of sailing in a fun way.
The first day there was practically no wind, and the sun burning hot, but a dip in the waters, visiting a secluded beach, and other fun sailing activities kept us all engaged. We got a super cheap meal at the Opua Cruising Club. It’s normal eating fare, but it’s by the water, and a local family at the other table chatted us up. It was great!
The night on board the boat was wonderful, and miraculously the kids didn’t fight over who’d sleep where. It would’ve been too hot to close the hatch, so we kept the it open (I think all the boats did). It was nice to be woken up by the bright light and seeing the sunrise over the water.
The second day, I drove over to Paihia (10mins drive) to have breakfast and walk around. It was a wonderful town, and I had great coffee from Letz Cafe. When Laura arrived later, we checked the weather and knew that there would be no wind in the morning, so we took the boat to Russell. The kids had fun playing at the beach, and afterwards enjoyed ice blocks, before the wind arrived in the afternoon and we got to enjoy hours of nonstop sailing.
We could’ve definitely stayed another day or two to explore the area some more, but that’ll be good to do when we take up the Level 2 course. I’d recommend visiting both Russell and Paihia. Russell is especially quaint, it’s a place I could stay at and relax for days just sitting at all the eating places by the beach.
The only thing I did not enjoy was waking up at 4am to make the drive from Auckland to Opua, not my best idea. If you’re from Auckland, I’d recommend visiting the night before (stay at Russell or Paihia!)
The kids are now very keen to learn and want to join a local club to take classes on small boats. We’ll be back for the level 2 course and hopefully take the boat out on our own afterwards!
Highly recommended!
The process from the initial point of contact emailing Julie (a bunch of) questions, all the way to the end, was pleasant. Our instructor Laura was amazing, she asked about our goal for the course and tailored the days to give us a great experience. She was great with the kids, talking and joking with them, and teaching us all the basics of sailing in a fun way.
The first day there was practically no wind, and the sun burning hot, but a dip in the waters, visiting a secluded beach, and other fun sailing activities kept us all engaged. We got a super cheap meal at the Opua Cruising Club. It’s normal eating fare, but it’s by the water, and a local family at the other table chatted us up. It was great!
The night on board the boat was wonderful, and miraculously the kids didn’t fight over who’d sleep where. It would’ve been too hot to close the hatch, so we kept the it open (I think all the boats did). It was nice to be woken up by the bright light and seeing the sunrise over the water.
The second day, I drove over to Paihia (10mins drive) to have breakfast and walk around. It was a wonderful town, and I had great coffee from Letz Cafe. When Laura arrived later, we checked the weather and knew that there would be no wind in the morning, so we took the boat to Russell. The kids had fun playing at the beach, and afterwards enjoyed ice blocks, before the wind arrived in the afternoon and we got to enjoy hours of nonstop sailing.
We could’ve definitely stayed another day or two to explore the area some more, but that’ll be good to do when we take up the Level 2 course. I’d recommend visiting both Russell and Paihia. Russell is especially quaint, it’s a place I could stay at and relax for days just sitting at all the eating places by the beach.
The only thing I did not enjoy was waking up at 4am to make the drive from Auckland to Opua, not my best idea. If you’re from Auckland, I’d recommend visiting the night before (stay at Russell or Paihia!)
The kids are now very keen to learn and want to join a local club to take classes on small boats. We’ll be back for the level 2 course and hopefully take the boat out on our own afterwards!
Highly recommended!
Written 22 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a comprehensive, lovely, review and your great rating, it is very much appreciated.
The team do work hard to ensure that each sailing adventure makes the most of the weather and conditions to ensure you have fun and progress your sailing aspirations. Our instructors are passionate and enjoing sharing their love for the sport, thank you for the individual compliments.
We're so glad you and your children enjoyed their initial sailing experience and excited that you want to continue with the sport, spending more time on the water and building your skills.
We look forward to welcoming you back aboard again soon.
Written 24 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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