Welcome to one of New Zealand’s classic ketches.
Te Kaihōpara is unique with her heritage, history, classic New Zealand design and luxurious features.
Te Kaihōpara can host 8-10 guests overnight or 25 guests for a day event, in many different spaces. Offering several leisure areas, including large aft teak deck, carpeted saloon and state of the art coach house with the latest in CZone and B&G technology.
Te Kaihōpara is a 72ft, steel-hulled, 56-ton, ketch-rigged sailing vessel. Designed by Don Brooke and built in New Zealand. The yacht is a luxuriously appointed cruising ketch that combines the strength and safety of a steel hull, with excellent performance under wind and power through excellent design and waterline length.
Te Kaihōpara translates to The Explorer in Maori and has been renamed to capture the essence and purpose of our future adventures around this beautiful country.
Built in 1976, Te Kaihōpara was formerly known as The Dove and Paul Markson II when originally launched. She has graced New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, crossed the Tasman and cruised the Pacific Islands for more than four decades under three previous owners.
Te Kaihōpara is 72 feet (21.8m) in length, 5.1m wide and has a draft of 2.1m. She carries 2,930 of water and 4,088 litres of fuel, providing long range cruising options for up to 10 guests and 4 crew, she can host onboard in 4 cabins.
The saloon and coach house can seat 18 people and the vessel provides the ability to helm from the aft deck or the coach house, depending on the weather.
Te Kaihōpara was designed to explore New Zealand’s rugged coastline in all weather conditions, providing comfort with extensive indoor and outdoor spaces.
Don Brooke was a specialist in steel cruising yacht design in New Zealand and the owner who commissioned the original build, went on to build a 80-foot, followed by a 100-foot yacht, both also designed by Don Brooke. Don’s designs are immensely safe and strong and were designed to be sailed in all weather conditions.
The galley is comfortable and spacious, providing 4 fridges, a large chest freeze and a second dining area. The vessel has berths for twelve.
There are three private cabins available. Two cabins can be configured for a couple, a couple and a single or three single berths.
The 12 berth layout is fairly spacious due to the beamy design of the hull. With ample built in furniture, stowing your gear while onboard is easy and the well lit cabins, provide an alternative space to relax at sea or at anchor.
Our menu on Te Kaihōpara provides a uniquely ‘New Zealand’ style of cuisine paying homage to the abundant local produce. Always cooking to season and location we use only the finest & freshest, mood-boosting ingredients New Zealand has on offer.
At the we can create healthy mocktails along with a great selection of New Zealand craft beers and wines. Gaze out to sea and feel the peace taking in unblemished views of the horizon while sipping champagne and feasting on oysters.
Te Kaihōpara is in survey under Maritime New Zealand and the MCA in the UK. Te Kaihōpara is one of only three sailing yachts in the <24m category approved to operate internationally as a New Zealand flagged or owned vessel. The other two are our yachts Silver Fern and Awen. This was achieved through extensive investment in upgrades and safety equipment, safety systems and operating procedures, that ensures Te Kaihōpara operates at the highest levels of international safety.
Whether it is a fishing adventure or foraging for local plants to incorporate into your menu, or even boutique wine tastings, our world-class crew will take it to the next level.
You can customise your itinerary based on your interests and where you would like to go. Swimming with the dolphins, snorkelling, kayaking, stand-up paddle-boards or wakeboard foiling, you can be as active or as laid back as you wish.
We are very flexible and accommodating and can tailor-make a package to suit the perfect time onboard your floating retreat.
Be at one with the sea and beautiful New Zealand. A staycation on our boutique hotel on water, is magical and beyond ordinary.
Te Kaihōpara can carry up to 4 highly trained & nurturing crew for overnight stays and for day events there is a steward for every 10 guests plus crew.