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
Full view
About
Escape from ordinary and set sail with us. We have a fleet of well-maintained Kiwi yachts for Bareboat Charter, Flotilla Rallies and Learn to Sail courses. Our boats are suitable for two to six people; complete novices can be out skippering their own boat in the beautiful Bay of Islands after one of our sailing courses, experienced sailors can cast off straight away. Great Escape is an authorised Yachting New Zealand and International Yacht Training sailing school. Our instructors are all experienced passionate sailors with thousands of ocean miles under their belts. Come sail with us.
Opua, New Zealand
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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5.0
210 reviews
Excellent
196
Very good
11
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Jet24787741362
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Friends
Took 3 Raven 31's out (bareboat hire) for 5 days, 4 nights. Julie and Bill and their team make it a fantastic experience. Nothing is too much trouble. Everyone knows that boats are high maintenance, but the few issues experienced were dealt with quickly and competently which gave the 12 sailors a relaxed carefree experience.
Had lovely weather which was an added bonus and the native birdlife on some of the islands has improved dramatically.
The Bay of Islands is a beautiful place and for those interested in sailing, Julie and Bill enhance the whole experience by giving a complete, carefree, sailing package.
Had lovely weather which was an added bonus and the native birdlife on some of the islands has improved dramatically.
The Bay of Islands is a beautiful place and for those interested in sailing, Julie and Bill enhance the whole experience by giving a complete, carefree, sailing package.
Written 16 November 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 lovely review and your great rating, it is really appreciated.
We're so glad you had a great time.
Welcoming back returning sailors is like catching up with friends, such a pleasure, thank you for choosing to sail with us again. We look forward to welcoming you back aboard again next season, if not before.
Written 19 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Passport34714046409
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Family
Fantastic Staff. Laura had plenty the needed patience for we novice sailor!
We gained the needed skills to have an amazing cruise in the islands and get us and the Yacht back in one piece.
Will definitely be back to up our skills and spend more time in the Beautiful Bay of Islands.
We gained the needed skills to have an amazing cruise in the islands and get us and the Yacht back in one piece.
Will definitely be back to up our skills and spend more time in the Beautiful Bay of Islands.
Written 15 November 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 for taking the time to write such a lovely review and your great rating, it is very much appreciated.
We're very glad you gained the skills you needed to enjoy sailing in our beautiful Bay of Islands and look forward to welcoming you back aboard again soon.
Written 19 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GAW
5 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
Four of us had a week on board Misha, a Raven 31. It was a good size for four people and everything worked as it should. The crockery, cutlery, cooking equipment and bedding was all adequate for our purposes. We didn't like the toilet - a no paper flush.
We encountered challenging weather and we often had the second reef in. Misha handled the windy and rough conditions well and we thoroughly enjoyed some great sailing. We were new to the area but the charts and electronic navigation made getting around easy. We enjoyed the spectacular views on the walks on Urupukapuka Is and Moturua Is.
We had a problem with an alarm and Bill came out to deal with it without any fuss. Julie was very helpful in the months and weeks leading up to our arrival, answering our emails quickly with useful information and advice. We always felt well looked after.
We encountered challenging weather and we often had the second reef in. Misha handled the windy and rough conditions well and we thoroughly enjoyed some great sailing. We were new to the area but the charts and electronic navigation made getting around easy. We enjoyed the spectacular views on the walks on Urupukapuka Is and Moturua Is.
We had a problem with an alarm and Bill came out to deal with it without any fuss. Julie was very helpful in the months and weeks leading up to our arrival, answering our emails quickly with useful information and advice. We always felt well looked after.
Written 4 October 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 lovely review and post your photos, it is really appreciated.
We're very glad you enjoyed sailing Misha, the Raven 31s are great boats for handling the more challenging conditions and ideal for exploring the beautiful Bay of Islands.
We'd love to have you sailing with us again and look forward to welcoming you back aboard.
Written 31 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paul T
Auckland, New Zealand18 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
This was a really enjoyable experience. My wife and I spent a lovely weekend together getting our level 1 sailing certificate (with Laura as our instructor). The style of teaching was very friendly and stressfree, and as a result we enjoyed our time plus learned a heap.
We also got to visit and swim in a stunning Bay of islands location we never knew existed. It was also a fun experience to moor up then use the dingy and row in to Russell for a coffee and pastries with Laura!
The course itself was well put together, the owners and staff were all great to deal with, Laura was fantastic, the bay of islands was a stunning location for it all, and the whole weekend was just really enjoyable. Even if you're a complete beginner and not sure you'll be a lifelong sailor, this experience will be enjoyable. Highly recommended.
We also got to visit and swim in a stunning Bay of islands location we never knew existed. It was also a fun experience to moor up then use the dingy and row in to Russell for a coffee and pastries with Laura!
The course itself was well put together, the owners and staff were all great to deal with, Laura was fantastic, the bay of islands was a stunning location for it all, and the whole weekend was just really enjoyable. Even if you're a complete beginner and not sure you'll be a lifelong sailor, this experience will be enjoyable. Highly recommended.
Written 12 May 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 very much for taking the time to write a review, your fabulous rating and lovely photos, it is very much appreciated.
We're so glad you enjoyed your time out sailing with us, we are very lucky to have such a wonderful cruising ground as our playground and our team really work hard to ensure you have a great experience. We share these reviews and it is so nice to get such positive feedback.
If you want to continue sailing we'd love to be able to welcome you back aboard again sometime in the future.
Written 18 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Daniel C
Sydney, Australia13 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
Absolutely brilliant. Such good rates.
Stunnng islands. Great orientation to the boat. Great itinerary and local recommendations. Loved the simplicity of the Noelex 25. Excited to come back again!
Stunnng islands. Great orientation to the boat. Great itinerary and local recommendations. Loved the simplicity of the Noelex 25. Excited to come back again!
Written 13 April 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 for taking the time to write a review and your great rating. It is very much appreciated.
We're so glad you enjoyed your time aboard the Noelex 25, they are are great boat for exploring the beautiful Bay of islands. We look forward to welcoming you back aboard again soon.
Written 13 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Compass779157
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Couples
We had 3 days of superb learning and encouragement from Amanda before setting sail on our own for 3 nights/4 days (added an extra day to the ‘6-day: Learn-to-sail then Sail-yourself Adventure’).
We were both novice sailors. Amanda’s calm and fun approach to teaching us made us feel confident and excited to head out on our own.
The weather was great, sea was warm and the fish were biting. We overnighted in 3 different bays in the stunning Bay of Islands.
Julie was great to deal with after our first go a couple of years ago was cut short due to a storm before covid delayed our return a couple of times.
Thanks Amanda and Great Escape for a great week. We’ll be back!
We were both novice sailors. Amanda’s calm and fun approach to teaching us made us feel confident and excited to head out on our own.
The weather was great, sea was warm and the fish were biting. We overnighted in 3 different bays in the stunning Bay of Islands.
Julie was great to deal with after our first go a couple of years ago was cut short due to a storm before covid delayed our return a couple of times.
Thanks Amanda and Great Escape for a great week. We’ll be back!
Written 4 April 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 your lovely comments and great rating. The team work hard to ensure everyone has a safe and happy sailing advenure and your positive feedback is very much appreciated.
We're glad you finally got to enjoy a sailing adventure in our beautiful Bay of Islands and we look forward to welcoming you back aboard again soon.
Written 5 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rebecca P
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Couples
We had a magical two days in the Bay of Islands. We had penguins and dolphins playing around our boat, light winds and plenty of sunshine. We were on board Davidson 20 (Carnival). She is a basic boat, but got us around the islands safely and comfortably. Perhaps not the boat for a super experienced sailor wanting the best of the best, or for those wanting lots of comfort, but for getting us around she was perfect!
Written 28 March 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 time to write a review and your great rating, it is really lovely for the team to get such positive feedback.
We're really glad you had a good time aboard Carnival in the beautiful Bay of Islands, this is such a special place and it's great to be out in the islands on your own boat.
We'd love to have you back sailing with us again and look forward to welcoming you aboard again soon.
Written 30 March 2023
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.
Chrisy A
Auckland, New Zealand13 contributions
Nov 2022
Just did a 5 day sailing course with 3 ladies. We're all in our 50's and wanted to get some experience without male partners on board. Sailing with GE is an amazing experience. Julie and Bill are super organised and friendly. They go out of their way to make you feel supported and confident. I've experienced training from 3 of their instructors who are all top notch and great at sharing their huge wealth of knowledge. They all have their own style and were all exceptional teachers. The boats are simple to handle, well kept with all the basics on board and of course nothing beats an after dark skinny dip in the phosphorescence under the milky way listening to the kiwi in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Written 13 December 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 and your great rating, it is very much appreciated. We're glad you and your crew had such a lovely time.
You have nicely captured some of the really special elements of sailing with us in the beautiful Bay of Islands. We look forward to welcoming you back aboard again soon.
Written 14 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
farmersnz
nz6 contributions
Nov 2022
6day Learn to Sail review:
Wow! What an incredible experience for our family (2 adults 2 kids). Kids and I had never sailed before! We had Antje as our instructor for the 6day learn to sail course, both my girls got Level 1 and hubby and I got Level 2. Antje was extremely professional and patient, she really explains things thoroughly so you feel confident giving it a go. The kids absolutely loved it with Antje as their instructor, they were super confident to do it all....including motoring in and out of the marina! After 3 days with Antje we felt ready to sail ourselves around the stunning bay of islands knowing that the great escapes team was just a phone call away if we had any questions or needed assistance.
Advance Level 3 review:
After completing the 6day learn to sail course we decided to book the Advance Level 3 yachting certificate and International Bareboat license with AMANDA SWAN as our instructor! What an opportunity to be taught by such a highly experienced sailor from the Maiden voyage in 1989! What a privilege! Amanda was full of knowledge, we had soo many questions! Amanda was able to build on from our level 2 skills and take us to the next level including sailing at night. She was able to tailor the course and narrow down exactly what skills we needed to practise. We feel more confident sailing offshore with our family after completing this advance course. Great escape have been excellent to deal with right from the first time i contacted them and told them our plans to learn to sail so we could go offshore. Julie knew exactly what courses we needed to do and what qualifications is needed internationally if chartering etc.
Highly recommend great escape for all sailing abilities.
Wow! What an incredible experience for our family (2 adults 2 kids). Kids and I had never sailed before! We had Antje as our instructor for the 6day learn to sail course, both my girls got Level 1 and hubby and I got Level 2. Antje was extremely professional and patient, she really explains things thoroughly so you feel confident giving it a go. The kids absolutely loved it with Antje as their instructor, they were super confident to do it all....including motoring in and out of the marina! After 3 days with Antje we felt ready to sail ourselves around the stunning bay of islands knowing that the great escapes team was just a phone call away if we had any questions or needed assistance.
Advance Level 3 review:
After completing the 6day learn to sail course we decided to book the Advance Level 3 yachting certificate and International Bareboat license with AMANDA SWAN as our instructor! What an opportunity to be taught by such a highly experienced sailor from the Maiden voyage in 1989! What a privilege! Amanda was full of knowledge, we had soo many questions! Amanda was able to build on from our level 2 skills and take us to the next level including sailing at night. She was able to tailor the course and narrow down exactly what skills we needed to practise. We feel more confident sailing offshore with our family after completing this advance course. Great escape have been excellent to deal with right from the first time i contacted them and told them our plans to learn to sail so we could go offshore. Julie knew exactly what courses we needed to do and what qualifications is needed internationally if chartering etc.
Highly recommend great escape for all sailing abilities.
Written 4 December 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 such a lovely comprehensive review, it is very much appreciated. We've really enjoyed sailing with your family and are very excited for your future plans.
We look forward to hearing about your sailing adventures, you're about to cast off for the adventure of a lifetime. Bon voyage and safe passage.
Written 7 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience