About Southern Passages
Built on
a century of seamanship.
Southern Passages is founded by Peter Eastmure and based in Lyttelton, Christchurch. Offshore sailing training and expedition passages throughout New Zealand and the Pacific.
Who We Are
Two things no one else in Canterbury does.
Southern Passages operates from Lyttelton — the working harbour at the foot of the Port Hills, 12 kilometres from Christchurch city centre. We run two distinct operations from the same base: offshore sailing training and an expedition charter business.
Offshore sailing courses — Competent Crew, Day Skipper, and Yachtmaster Offshore — are delivered live-aboard our offshore sailing yacht, on the Canterbury coast and beyond. Launching 2026/27.
The expedition side takes guests to places most people never reach — Marlborough Sounds, Stewart Island, Tonga, and offshore passage berths throughout New Zealand and the Pacific.
Only
Our credentials
Only
Offshore sailing operation in Canterbury
12km
From Christchurch CBD
Offshore
Our training vessel
The Vessel
Our vessel — our offshore sailing yacht
Our vessel is a purpose-built offshore cruising yacht designed for the Southern Ocean. At 65 feet, she is large enough for extended offshore passages and live-aboard training, and capable enough to operate in the remote conditions of the South Island and Pacific.
She is based permanently in Lyttelton and operates throughout New Zealand and the Pacific — from the Canterbury coast and Marlborough Sounds to Stewart Island and Tonga.
Type
Offshore sailing yacht
Base
Lyttelton, Canterbury
Operating Area
NZ + Pacific
Capacity
Up to 10 guests
Use
Training + Charter
Our Base
Lyttelton, Christchurch
Lyttelton is one of New Zealand's great working harbours — a volcanic crater harbour on the Banks Peninsula, 12 kilometres from Christchurch city centre through the road tunnel. It has been a departure point for Antarctic expeditions, Pacific voyages, and offshore passages for over 150 years.
Southern Passages was founded by Peter Eastmure — whose grandfather, Captain John Percival Eastmure, founded the New Zealand Coastguard in 1938. The sea is not a new pursuit for this family. It is a lineage.
It is also, until now, a place without a dedicated offshore sailing operation. Southern Passages changes that.
Distance to Christchurch
12km via tunnel
Harbour type
Volcanic crater harbour
Founded by
Peter Eastmure
Heritage
NZ Coastguard — est. 1938
Our Voyages
Where we're going — and where we're headed next.
Southern Passages Expeditions is building something we believe Canterbury — and New Zealand — hasn't quite had before: genuine offshore sailing, properly done, from your own back doorstep to the far side of the Pacific. Here's where things stand.
Marlborough Sounds
Our first voyages will take you through one of the world's great cruising grounds — sheltered waters, hidden bays, and real sailing aboard a vessel built for it. This is where it all begins.
Stewart Island
A wilder, quieter corner of New Zealand, reached the way it should be: under sail. Kiwi in the bush, albatross overhead, and very few other boats. In development now.
The Fiji Passage
A genuine offshore crossing from New Zealand to the South Pacific. Multi-day, open ocean, real watch-keeping — the kind of voyage you remember for the rest of your life. Currently in development as we finalise the details.
Corporate & team experiences
A genuinely different way to bring your team together — sailing a vessel with real pedigree, not just another harbour cruise.
School sailing programmes
A genuine, staged pathway for young sailors toward a real Day Skipper qualification, in partnership with Coastguard Boating Education.
Register your interest and we'll let you know as each of these comes online — particularly if you've sailed offshore before and you're already looking for what's next.
From the crew
What our sailors say.
“
I've done a lot of sailing courses over the years. This was the first one where I felt like I was actually sailing — not just being supervised. The passage to the Marlborough Sounds was the real thing.
Marcus T.
Competent Crew, 2026
“
Our team came back from the corporate day genuinely different. Not in a workshop way — in a 'we actually did something hard together' way. I'd recommend it to any Canterbury business.
Rachel O.
Corporate Day, Christchurch
“
The Stewart Island passage was one of the best experiences of my life. Albatross, no other boats, proper Southern Ocean swell. Peter and the crew were exceptional throughout.
James H.
Stewart Island Expedition, 2026
Get in touch
Whether you're after your first offshore certificate, a berth on a passage to Marlborough Sounds or Stewart Island, or a private charter for your team — get in touch and we'll find the right fit.