The magic is coming to Opua Cruising Club!
We’ve got the incredible Ngati Soul bringing his signature sound to the waterfront — think laid-back live music, good vibes and an easy Sunday evening with friends.
Come down, grab a drink, settle in and enjoy 🙂
Sunday 24 May 2026
From 6:00pm @ Opua Cruising Club
Free Entry
Full bar and bistro menu available.
Coming to Opua Cruising Club on Saturday, 23rd of May, join Andrew Fagan for ‘Time and Tide’ – a captivating evening of storytelling, live music, poetry, and a powerful visual journey sharing the raw reality of solo sailing in a 5.1 metre yacht.
Tickets are just $15 available at the Opua Cruising Club. The club’s bar and the Galley Bistro will be open.
The Opua Cruising Club Easter BBQ Cruise was a small event this year. The weather hasn’t been great – indeed, at the time of writing, another weather bomb is due to make landfall this evening with warnings to expect 90 to 120 mm of rain and possible thunderstorms.
Still, despite the low turnout, a small group of regulars had a tasty BBQ at Indico Bay with only a brief shower of rain and a pleasant walk staying on Urupukapuka the following morning.
We hope everyone had a good Easter.
Opua Cruising Club is proud to shine the spotlight on our April Sponsor of the Month, Great Escape Sailing.
Discover the Bay of Islands with Great Escape Sailing Sail-Yourself Yachts
For over 20 years, Great Escape Sailing has been helping people experience the magic of sailing in the Bay of Islands. Based in Opua, this well-established sailing school and yacht charter company offers unforgettable on-the-water adventures for beginners and experienced sailors alike.
Whether you’re looking to learn the ropes, build confidence as a skipper, or simply enjoy the freedom of exploring under sail, Great Escape Sailing provides a unique way to experience one of the world’s great cruising destinations.
Learn, Sail, Explore
Great Escape Sailing specialises in hands-on sailing experiences that combine learning with adventure. Their offerings include:
With a fleet of well-maintained Kiwi yachts and personalised instruction, you can go from novice to confidently sailing your own vessel in just a few days.
Experience You Can Trust
Great Escape Sailing is an accredited sailing school with certified instructors who bring thousands of miles of offshore and coastal experience. Their passion for sailing and deep local knowledge of the Bay of Islands ensure every trip is not only safe but truly memorable.
All experiences are tailored to your group, giving you the freedom to learn at your own pace while exploring secluded bays, sheltered anchorages, and some of New Zealand’s most stunning coastal scenery.
Your Sailing Adventure Starts Here
Whether you’re a local looking to build skills or a visitor wanting to experience the Bay from a different perspective, Great Escape Sailing offers something truly special.
Supporting local marine and tourism operators like Great Escape Sailing helps keep our vibrant boating community strong and thriving.
Step aboard, embrace the adventure, and discover why so many people fall in love with sailing in the Bay of Islands.
Since coming under new ownership in December 2025, Great Escape Sailing has celebrated a successful summer season alongside its long-standing team of instructors and is looking forward to building on that success in the future. The new owners, Chris and Erena, warmly welcome anyone who would like to get in touch or chat in person, by phone or email – call 021 2GR8 ESC (021 2 478 372), email info@greatescape.co.nz, or visit www.greatescape.co.nz.
Great Escape Sailing
W10 Main Wharf
Bay of Islands Marina
Beechey St, Opua
We Have Our Winners!
After receiving nearly 60 amazing entries, we’re thrilled to announce the winner of our Opua Cruising Club Wedding Venue Giveaway!
A huge congratulations to our lucky couple, Sefa and Anapela. We can’t wait to help bring your special day to life here at the club. Set right on the water’s edge in the stunning Bay of Islands, it’s a truly unforgettable place to say “I do.”
To everyone who entered, thank you so much for sharing your stories with us. We were blown away by the love, creativity, and heartfelt entries.
If you missed out this time, don’t worry, our venue is still one of Northland’s most beautiful and affordable waterfront wedding locations, perfect for everything from intimate gatherings to celebrations with up to 200 guests.
Get in touch to find out more about hosting your own special day at Opua Cruising Club.
This year’s Opua Cruising Club Easter Cruise will kick off on Good Friday at 5pm with a BBQ at Indico Bay on Urupukapuka Island.
Once we’re all there and well fed, the assembled group can then discuss what they plan to do for the next couple of days.
Look forward to seeing you all there!
Coming up on Saturday, the 11th April at Opua Cruising Club. An evening of amazing vocal talent, from local talent Thera van Poppel!
This Sunday’s Otehei Bay Cup Weekend Sailing Festival has been postponed due to the weather forecast. A tropical low is moving into the Tasman Sea and is set to bring strong northeasterly winds (up to 40kmp) and heavy rain to the Bay of Islands towards the end of this week.
Opua Cruising Club decided to postpone the weekend’s sailing until the weather improves. As soon as a new date is chosen, we’ll let you know!
Thanks, everyone and remember you can always drop into the club for a hot meal and a cold beer, no matter what the weather is doing!
Sunday’s Club BBQ in the Bay at the southern end of Onewhero Bay was a small, relaxed afternoon. Due to a slightly wobbly weather forecast, we only had five boats on the day. Luckily, the bay was sheltered from the southwesterly winds, the food was delicious, and a good time was had by all.
Imagine challenging the world – not in a sprint, but in the longest, most daring marathon of all: circumnavigating the globe by sailboat, non-stop, without assistance, and faster than anyone ever has before. That’s the Trophée Jules Verne, a race inspired by the spirit of adventure in Jules Verne’s classic novel ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. This race is about pure speed and endurance, pushing both sailors and boats to their limits.
Opua Cruising Club member Rebeca Gmuer-Hornell, who is now the fastest Kiwi to sail around the world, has recently returned to Opua after competing in the Jules Verne challenge.
She was part of an all-women crew who completed the race in 57 days, making Rebecca the fastest Kiwi for the challenge. Rebecca is a local girl who learned to sail with her dad and she has done some amazing sailing on the world stage.
Rebecca will be at Opua Cruising Club this Friday (13th March) at 7.30pm. This is going to be a great talk, so come along and hear all about her adventure.
