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The Glass Bottom Boat, Aquador, has been out of the water since 5th October but is now safely back on its mooring in Leigh Harbour.
The business is under new ownership from 19 December and bookings will be open soon. We’re very excited to be back up and running……
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The COVID pandemic and our government’s reaction to it is causing disruption to many sectors of the tourism industry. We will shortly be in an amended RED level.
Until 4th April, you will still be required to be double vaccinated to come on the boat tour.
We have a duty to look after our staff and other passengers. PLEASE do not visit if you are feeling unwell. This includes any symptoms such as a sore throat, cough, sneezing, fever, etc. If you are in the ‘at-risk’ category, we also respectfully advise you to not visit. Please contact us via email ([email protected]) to advise and you will receive a full refund of your booking if applicable.
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Under the current Covid Protection System (announced 23rd March 2022) we are now able to operate in Red. Vaccine passes and QR code scanning were discontinued on 4th April.
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We are currently not hiring kayaks or snorkelling gear. If it becomes available, there will be no need to scan in or show a vaccine pass.
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Yes, all our staff are required to be vaccinated to be able to work for us.
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If no bookings can be seen it’s because either the tours are full for that day, or we have no scheduled tours. The business is currently for sale. When we have some certainty about when operations will start, we’ll make bookings available. We don’t operate during the Winter months. We finish late May or early June and recommence in the first week of the Term 3 School Holidays in September or October (except at the moment as the boat is out of the water having maintenance and its five-yearly survey completed). We don’t operate every day until the peak season over Summer.
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Because our tours can fill quickly during peak times, we recommend booking online in advance to guarantee your Glass Bottom Boat Tour. Bookings can be made online using a credit card up to one hour prior to the scheduled activity. For beach walk-ins or if you are unable to book online, we accept cash, EFTPOS, and credit cards on the beach. Please note: We do not take day-of bookings over the phone because we cannot hold seats without payment.
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Yes! If you’ve got a half-day to spend at Goat Island, we recommend doing two activities … and if you’re spending a full day at the beach, you’ll have plenty of time to do even more!
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Goat Island Marine Reserve is located in Leigh. Depending on where you are in Auckland, it will take you about an hour and a half to get to Goat Island … if there’s no traffic. However, on busy summer weekends and during public holidays, it can sometimes take up to three hours to get to the Reserve from Auckland – please plan accordingly. We also ask that guests arrive 30 minutes prior to their tour for check-in – you must check in with us before boarding the boat. If you are running late, we will do our best to accommodate you, but please note we do not provide refunds for missed bookings due to traffic, and cannot guarantee a seat on another tour during peak times.
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The Glass Bottom Boat loads passengers directly from the beach at Goat Island. From there, the boat tours areas in the Reserve known to have a high population of marine life. The tour also takes guests to the back of Goat Island to view its caves and the outlying islands surrounding the Reserve. Please note, the tour route can change due to sea and wind conditions. The boat does not stop at Goat Island, and passengers are not allowed off of the boat during the tour.
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If you’re taking a tour during the cooler months, it’s advisable to bring a jacket or jumper to stay warm throughout the trip. If you are susceptible to motion sickness, take or bring medication with you (and a container or other receptacle to use if you start to feel unwell). If you plan on enjoying more than one activity or spending time on the beach, bring food & beverages for an onshore picnic (there is no food available for purchase at the beach).
Please note, as this is a protected marine reserve, dogs are not allowed at the beach or in the car park.
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We operate in the open sea, so please understand that our tours can be cancelled due to poor weather (rain, wind or deteriorating conditions) or sea conditions (rough water or poor visibility). To avoid disappointment, check the Glass Bottom Boat Operating Status report (scrolling across the top of the Home page on this website) and shown as a ‘Status Message’ in the bottom right corner where the ‘Chat’ function button is. sailing report (posted daily on our website) at 8 a.m. on the day of your tour. If you have booked online, your confirmation email asks that you check these (and your email) BEFORE you leave home.
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If your tour is cancelled, you will be notified via email/text message before 9 a.m. on the day of your tour. The only thing required of you is to reply to the email advising your wishes – you will receive a Gift Card to the value of your booking that will allow you to book at your convenience in the future, or a full refund. Further information will be contained in the email you receive.
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We provide full refunds for tours cancelled 24 hours in advance. If a tour is cancelled less than 24 hours in advance, the refund is at the sole discretion of the operator. If you need to cancel your tour for a personal reason, please contact us by email ([email protected])
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Yes! Beyond the activities we offer, the Reserve offers many opportunities for exploration! There is a walking trail (a moderate walk, 1.5-hour return) to Cape Rodney, as well as the University of Auckland’s Marine Discovery Centre.
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Absolutely! We understand that these past couple of years have been an unusual situation and we’d like to help you out. Contact us at [email protected] to discuss…..
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All of our paddles are being sanitised between clients (although we have enough to not have to reuse them between hires). Kayaks are wiped down at touchpoints between clients as well.
