Bay of Islands Travel Guide

 dustmon Says:  We loved the part of our New Zealand cruise that took us to The Bay of Islands and Russell. We went through the Hole in the Rock and past many beautiful green islands, then getting some free time to walk around lovely Russell---we even found a somewhat Naturist beach nearby. 

 johnau1 Says:  When driving south from Russell, to Whangarei, a great alternative route is the Russell coast road which is sealed for the entire journey. The road stays close to the coastline of the eastern Bay of Islands with numerous beautiful views as one passes through small beachside... 

 Kakapo2 Says:  Although inland, 25 km from Paihia, Kerikeri has big historic significance for the Bay of Islands. For a centre, however, it is still a very laid-back and quiet place, nestled between orchards of citrus fruit, kiwi, melons, peppers etc.Like Paihia, Kerikeri started as a... 

 Kakapo2 Says:  Already long before he designed the famous public toilets in Kawakawa, a little town south of Paihia on the way to Whangarei, you could find Friedensreich Hundertwasser's art in the area. I remember prints and posters in galleries and tourist shops in Russell.Surely in New... 

 Kakapo2 Says:  Long Beach is much more suitable for swimming than Russell's town beach. It is on the other side of the peninsula. From the end of The Strand, Kent, Church or Beresford Street towards Flagstaff Hill you turn right into Long Beach Road which leads directly down to the... 

 Kakapo2 Says:  As Hone Heke and his Maori warriors burnt down all houses except the churches and mission buildings in 1845, there are not many buildings of the early days left. You will immediately spot the serene white Christ Church. It dates back to 1836 and is the oldest surviving... 

 Kakapo2 Says:  You reach Flagstaff Hill either by driving up there to the carpark and walk some metres to the top, or you walk up the steep hill from the end of The Strand, Russell's waterfront street.The flagpole sitting on top of the hill - formerly Maiki Hill, now Flagstaff Hill Reserve... 

 Kakapo2 Says:  Although Russell is linked to the mainland it feels like an island, just across the bay, with the main connections from Paihia and Opua by passenger and vehicle ferry. The feeling reflects this isolation. The town is so peaceful, picturesque, even romantic, with all those... 

 Kakapo2 Says:  Some New Zealanders had been complaining on a regular base that they had to pay an entry fee to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. They considered it - somehow correctly - as a kind of open air museum and the birthplace of the nation, and that therefore it should be free like... 

 Kakapo2 Says:  If I lived in the Bay of Islands I would surely not live in Paihia because at times it is rather crowded with tourists who explore the region. I could imagine to live on one of the many hills of Opua, the next settlement, as our friends do. A house on a hilltop with a view... 

 Kakapo2 Says:  The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840 by the British Government and Maori. It marks the birth of the nation we know now. The funny thing about it is that the British Government had not intended to add New Zealand to its empire. It was struggling with the... 

 balhannah Says:  These are beautiful horseshoe shaped falls. In Maori legend, there is meant to be a water monster living in the lagoon below the falls. You can walk to the falls on the Waitanga track or drive to Haruru township which is 3ks from Paihai. In the 1800's there were over 100... 

 1 Review and 38 Opinions  We were let down by the managers of Russell Cottages after booking a cottage for New Year. 3 weeks... 

 iandsmith Says:  In addition to the previous there's a raft of things to see. They have an entire saw mill (pic 1),amazing historical scenes in period costumes (pic 2), an extensive collection of historic photos that I found rivetting (pic 3), quality furniture pieces made from kauri and...