If you are ever near the Bay of Islands in Northland, there’s only one way to explore it. And that is by sea.

My family-of-four recently enjoyed a water-filled Bay of Islands adventure that will remain in my heart forever.

I’d been on a school trip aboard the R Tucker Thompson, in 1990, aged five, with my mother. Wanting to repeat the journey with my own daughters, my husband and I booked a family pass for a day sail.

Teen focus

This Tucker is not your normal ship – its main purpose is running seven-day youth voyages for teens aged 14-18, to build confidence, resilience and life skills they can’t grasp in the classroom.

The ship takes 12 teens on the adventure of a lifetime, learning to sail the tall ship and life at sea. The crew said 95% of participants come from Northland, one of NZ’s lowest socioeconomic regions, and that 340 kids took part last year.

The R Tucker Thompson arrives at the Russell Wharf. Photo / Merle Cave

To fund, and subsidise the youth development voyages for Northland teens, the ship offers day and sunset sails in summer around the Bay of Islands

Tickets include a return ferry from Paihia to Russell. Here we wait eagerly among overseas tourists wanting a taste of the Tucker and salt air.

The sunny day offer blues skies, puffy clouds and calm aqua seas as the Tucker pulls up at Russell Wharf at 10am. The masts, ropes and sails make you feel you’re about to meet Jack Sparrow…

The captain – an American who traded Brooklyn, New York, for the Bay of Islands 17 years ago – gives us a safety briefing. A crew of six welcome us – including two former youth programme attendees who now volunteer their time to help run the Tucker. We board then, on-deck we find somewhere to sit as the engine turns on and we set sail towards the many islands the bay is known for. With a subtle breeze and quick serve of hot cuppa and scones with cream and jam, we settle into the voyage.

The ocean is just a magnificent feast to your eyes as far as they can see! The only sound is the low swishing of the ship pushing through water, and light chitter-chatter aboard, and the odd gasp as we see penguins.

The crew talk to passengers about the boat, where we’re heading, the sealife and the scones. Then they give a safety briefing before passengers can harness-up to climb the ship’s rigging and out to the bow in a net. As the youngest and most sprightly visitors, my daughters are on their feet!

Eden Cave, 7, enjoys climbing the rigging aboard the R Tucker Thompson. Photo / Merle Cave

Once in harness, each – aged nine and seven – climb the rigging multiple times to the top – encouraged on by passengers and crew alike. They also enjoy the bow net.

Island pit-stop

We head towards Motuarohia Island to moor up. The R Tucker’s small boat ferries groups to the island while crew advise the lookout is must-do! Some passengers jump off the side and swim in.

We hit the shore and head to the lookout. It’s a hot walk but the lookout view is indescribable. Layers upon layers of blue, with green islands and rocky outposts and little white specks (boats) traversing them. We take photos and look once more before heading to the beach.

Walking down from the lookout on Motuarohia Island to the beach. Photo / Merle Cave

The shore is soft pebbles that murmur a swish as the tide takes them in and out. Once in, there’s a drop-off and you’re swimming in the clearest, purest, aqua-blue you’ve ever seen or felt.

Motuarohia Island beach is just paradise – the R Tucker Thompson is moored in the bay in the far-right corner. Photo / Merle Cave

You get an hour before it’s back to the ship for a succulent lunch (with a glass of wine if adults wish to pay for it) on deck.

Before the ship gets moving, a rope comes out and it’s time to swing off the deck and back into aqua-blue. The girls just love this. After about 100 jumps, plus some from other passengers the R Tucker moves out of the bay. Luckily, a bit of wind now allows for the crew to hoist the sails.

The relaxing goings-on aboard the R Tucker Thompson. Photo / Merle Cave

Sails fall, the ship engine starts and it’s time for passengers to take the steering wheel and ‘play captain’. The girls are all over this, with the actual captain showing them how to turn the wheel. Then they’re back to climbing the rigging. Before we know it, the R Tucker has stolen our hearts, and the afternoon. We dock at Russell and sadly say goodbye as we board the ferry to Paihia.

To learn more about the R Tucker Thompson, see: tucker.co.nz