“Our mission is to sail with everyday people to rare and remote places, to participate with passion in ocean races and adventures and undertake expeditions we’ll remember and treasure, for the rest of their lives.” We take people sailing—we create unforgettable memories across Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. With over 80 cruises, expeditions, ocean passages, races, and regattas each year, there’s an adventure for everyone.

We had an amazing trip for the Hobart to Whangarei passage. Captain David is an excellent skipper and Silver Fern is an amazing vessel. We had a great team for the passage and everyone contributed in meaningful ways. We decided to delay the trip for two days based on the weather forecast. This was a very prudent decision and David did a great job over the whole trip continually assessing and discussing the weather forecast for a safe passage. We had some great days of sailing between Australia and New Zealand. We hit some tricky weather on the last two days, down the east coast of New Zealand, but David made a good plan and we were successful to get through safely. We did several sail plan changes over the passage from full sails through to storm sail settings. The food was plentiful and meal planning for the expedition was superb. I would highly recommend Ocean Sailing Expeditions for anyone seeking meaningful offshore passage and heavy weather training. This particular passage was exactly what I was looking for to gain more offshore experience. In all, we covered just over 1600nm in 9 days. Aloha!

By Shawn A for Hobart to Opua 7-Jan-2026 on Feb 04, 2026

I enjoyed the experience. I have never done a passage of this distance. 1600NM. watching the weather and seeing the recommendations from the weather apps on Predict wind site was interesting. Many moonless nights with beautiful milky way and sunsets and rises a moon rise over sea. Dolphin watching. many thanks to george our autohelm. very reliable. Silver Fern is a well appointed craft and very safe. Hurtling into Whangarie shipping channel in 40 knots and 5 metre swell capped an entertaining voyage. Thank you David.

By Brian M for Hobart to Opua 7-Jan-2026 on Jan 29, 2026

The Trip from Hobart to Opua was great fun. We left late (because of incoming high winds) but that gave people some time to explore Hobart. Beautiful views off the end of Tasmania toward Cape Raoul and Tasman island. Joined by dolphins along the way. Great crew, very calm and patient skipper (David) and an interesting and challenging entrance to NZ in big seas and fog! If you enjoy an ocean passage, this is a good one.

By Caroline S for Hobart to Opua 7-Jan-2026 on Jan 28, 2026

Awesome experience which changed my views on sailing,gained new skills lost weight and still got to drink beers on the finish line,thanks David for making it happen,few more days. and would have had the ropes down pat, Sailing Awen is exciting and can highly recommend the adventure,Warren