New Zealand Yacht Charter Guide
Charter a luxury motor yacht, crewed catamaran or bareboat in New Zealand this year for an extraordinary vacation with family or friends
Climate | Culture| Destinations | Cuisine | Yachts
New Zealand, otherwise known as Middle Earth, truly is a unique and charming gem in the South Pacific. Featuring snowy-topped mountains; lush fields of greenery; astounding natural scenery, and their native bird, the kiwi, New Zealand contains immaculate pearls of nature that are sure to take your breath away.
For a true taste of the tantalising nature of New Zealand, it doesn’t get any more authentic than by yacht charter. Follow the routes of our ancestors, who first sailed around New Zealand in the 17th Century, and experience the same wonder and excitement felt by previous explorers when they first laid eyes upon the emerald and bright-white landscape, with an aura of pure turquoise surrounding these mystical islands.
Climate
New Zealand's Summer stretches from December to late February, with temperatures typically within 20 - 30ºC. Whilst summers tend to be mild and sunny, Autumn in New Zealand is also an incredibly pleasant time, with long days of sunshine and temperatures from 7 - 21ºC.
Spring is renowned as the time to stir up inspiration within all of us. Thousands of blossoming flowers, stretching across the fresh, green mountain range; newborn wildlife discovering the mystical lands of New Zealand for the first time, and mild temperatures ranging from 4.5 - 18ºC make Springtime in New Zealand ideal for long hikes and taking in the beauty of nature.
Culture
New Zealand is a land of many cultures and many different people. The people of New Zealand, known as Kiwis, are an incredibly open and accepting society who are interested in learning about you and welcoming you into their country. Being an island, New Zealand has depended on the ocean for food and trading, so sailing is in the Kiwi blood!
The original settlers of New Zealand were a Polynesian population known as the Maoris. Maori culture has had a lot of influence on New Zealand's society, and indeed made a lasting impression across the entire Western World; if you have ever turned on the TV to see an All-Blacks rugby match, you may be very familiar with the Maori war-dance: the Haka.
Destinations
Auckland
Auckland is an enchanting combination of rolling, lush fields, massive, open spaces, and an incredibly modern city. You can go for a hike in the morning along the stunning volcanic trail of Rangitoto Summit; spend your afternoon wandering around the boutique shopping districts of Karangahape Road or the Ponsonby Road retail haven, and then relax Orewa Beach to watch the sunset! The city of Auckland is colourful and vibrant; Polynesian influence has molded this city into a unique blend of hustle and bustle with an ambiance of pure relaxation.
Bay of Islands
Further north, the Bay of Islands is one of the most popular yachting destinations and for good reason! It's uninhabited islands, breathtaking scenery and sub tropical climate makes Bay of Islands a fantastic destination. The Bay of Islands maritime park is itself comprised of 144 islands and possesses an abundance of sea life and natural harbors - perfect for the intrepid sailor!
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a hive of activity and culture year-round, with a plethora of activities ranging from cycling trails, hiking, golf and all-sorts of festivals. November is a wonderfully celebratory time for the Hawke's Bay community, with their F.A.W.C!- Food and Wine Classic - festival; seasonal food, pools of wine and an atmosphere that'll be sure to put a smile on your face!
Napier is also widley renowned as an Art Deco city; 140 Art Deco buildings are looked after by the Art Deco Trust, and there are unbelievably popular walking tours around the city to get a glimpse of some of these historical infrastructures, such as the National Tobacco Company offices in Bridge Street; designed by Louis Hay, this is one of New Zealand's most photographed buildings.
Marlborough Sounds
Marlborough Sounds is another wonderful place to charter a yacht with over 4000km² of sounds, islands, peninsulas and sea-drowned valleys that make it's a true delight to explore - especially as many of the small towns are only accessible by boat!
Cuisine
New Zealand, being a predominantly agriculturally-centered country, is a foodie's heaven. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients are immaculately presented in a range of dishes with Western, Mediterranean and traditional Maori influences; and you can experience this spectrum of flavours in traditional artisan restaurants, or fresh from the farmers' market such as Matakana Farmers' Market in Auckland and cooked onboard your charter yacht!
Seafood is a key ingredient in New Zealand cuisine; from crayfish and mussels to whitebait and salmon, New Zealand's waters are brimming with all sorts of exquisite new flavours!
Lamb is a quintessential New Zealand dish; it's safe to say they have developed their culinary skills into an art form with the presentation of their dishes and immaculately tantalizing flavours!
Hangi is a classic Maori dish; similar to Australian cuisine, Hangi is traditionally cooked in a giant, stone barbeque that is dug into the ground. Meat is wrapped in leaves, or more commonly nowadays foil, and then placed in the Hangi and left for 3 or 4 hours.The most popular destination for the best Hangi is in Rotorua.
New Zealand has also built a reputation for itself with its incredible Wine and Cheese pairings; Hawke's Bay is popular for its Bordeaux blend wines, whilst Marlborough boasts world-class Sauvignon Blanc. The volcanic nature of New Zealand means that the land is rich in nutrition, so the vineyards are bursting with incredibly flavoursome grapevines that have produced award-winning wines!
