Southland Boat Cruises, New Zealand

Takaroa 2 Adventure Cruises Introduction

Fishing, diving, hunting, exploring, scenic cruising, social event, the choice is yours with Takaroa 2 Adventure Cruises. Let our Southland boat cruises show you the scenic wonders of Stewart Island or the remote rugged beauty of the Fiordland Sounds.

It's not often you can join a cruise and decide where you want to go and what you would like to do, but that is your option when you join your hosts Bill and Lyn Ayto. You can also decide where you would like to meet them to join your Te Anau or Fiordland cruise.

As each group has different ideas as to what Southland, Fiordland or Te Anau cruises they would like to do on their holiday, let Bill and Lyn know and they will do their best to provide it for you.

Southland Boat Cruises – Takaroa

Takaroa (named after the Polynesian God of the Sea) is a 17-metre steel vessel built in Australia in 1981 and has been based in Bluff, New Zealand since 1993.

Takaroa is designed to take you almost anywhere and offers a variety of Southland boat cruises around Stewart Island and the Southern Fiordland Sounds. A big, capable vessel, with five comfortable guest cabins and a huge area of deck space, she is fully rigged for sailing Southland boat charters.

Owner operators, Lyn and Bill Ayto, maintain her beautifully and keep a steady stream of baked scones and roast dinners coming from her warm and friendly galley where a pot of home made soup is always on the stove (available all day).

Fresh fish you have caught, pre dinner nibbles and more is on the menu on board Takaroa. All you need to bring is your own clothing and your choice of refreshments on your Fiordland cruise.

Popular with a growing number of diving, hunting and fishing parties who come back year after year, she is also well suited to family and corporate groups.

Takaroa is fully surveyed and operates under Safe Ship Management through the Maritime Safety Authority. Motor power is a 350 hp Scania diesel engine with a Perkins for the generator. Carries 16,000 Litres of fuel, full life saving gear, GPS, autopilot, colour sounder, colour radar, SSB radio and VHF radio.

Takaroa was recently awarded Best Boat at the HANZ (Hospitality Assoc. of NZ) fishing tournament at Stewart Island.

Southland Boat Cruises – Owners

Both Bill and Lyn have had many years experience with Southland, Fiordland and Te Anau cruises and fishing these southern waters.

Bill has been a commercial fisherman with his own vessels since the 1970's and also Skippering a ferry/cargo service across Foveaux Strait for a few years, while Lyn has been on charter and ferry/cargo vessels in these waters since 1981.

Southland Boat Cruises – Charters

These are just an indication of the Southland boat charters in the times listed.

Stewart Island Cruises:

• One to two days: Patersons inlet area and possibly Oban (Halfmoon) Bay. We can call in at the salmon farm, visit the whaling base, visit Millers Beach and Ulva Island which is well known for it's bird life.
• Two to three days: Patersons Inlet and then down the coast to Port Adventure. Usually you will see a great variety of seabirds on this trip.
• Three to four days: Paterson Inlet/Port Adventure/Lords River.
• Five to seven days: Perhaps sail direct to Port Pegasus, with only brief time looking at some of the other areas, and spend extra time in this lovely but remote area.

Fiordland Sounds Cruises:

• Five days: Depart Doubtful Sound and cruise down the coast to Breaksea and Dusky Sounds before going back to Doubtful Sound to catch the bus or launch to Lake Manapouri.
• Seven to ten days: Doubtful, Dagg, Dusky, Breaksea, Chalky and Preservation Inlets before returning to Doubtful Sound and onto Manapouri.

You can spend as much or as little time in any particular area...

• Enjoy the fishing in this practically untapped recreational fishery where lobsters and a wide variety of fish abound
• Leave the boat for a days hunting
• For keen divers there is a dive compressor, dive platform, ladder and a meter dive tender onboard
• Or just cruise around and enjoy the unspoiled, unbelievable scenery of Fiordland National Park (prices on application).

For further information about our Southland boat cruises please contact us.

Southland Boat Cruises – Accommodation

12 guests, two crew

• One x three single berths
• One double berth cabin
• One x two single berths
• Two cabins each with one double berth and two single berths
• There are two showers onboard

With comfortable accommodation for up to 12 guests in five cabins, it can be your home for a day or two, a week or longer. All berths have sheets and duvets and towels supplied.

7,000 litres of fresh water, a galley fully equipped with a thermowave electric oven, fridge/freezer and a microwave and plenty of power on board to recharge those video camera batteries.

For further information about our Southland boat cruises please contact us.