Russell Travel Guide

 Kate-Me Says:  Pompallier is a famous historic French Catholic Mission house, the original French bishop’s Catholic HQ of the Bay of Islands, and where the first bibles in Maori were printed (for the Catholics to get ahead of the Protestants on the other side of the bay to convert the... 

 worldkiwi Says:  In 2006, I finally got a chance to explore this picturesque building in Russell. It is a place you must visit when in Russell as it has been wonderfully restored and houses interesting working displays of the building's surprising industrial heritage. This building was... 

 IcemanNZL Says:  Built in 1841 - 1842, Pompallier House is the only remaining building of the first Catholic Mission to Western Oceania. I didnt venture into the grounds, but it is definately worth a peak through the gate at the building and inside if you wish to know more. 

 worldkiwi Says:  Russell's heritage buildings have generally been well preserved and the old police station on the waterfront still serves its law and order function. "Business" started in 1870 and today the station is a charming feature as you walk along Russell's waterfront. 

 worldkiwi Says:  Christ Church, in Russell, is the country's oldest and bears the scars of some turbulent times during the 1840s. Today it is a quaint little church, one street back from the waterfront in town. Explore the graveyard and learn a little bit of NZ's history from the tombstones... 

 IcemanNZL Says:  Christ Church built in 1836 is the oldest surviving church in the country. As the only building of consequence in the town the church was used for many purposes. In 1840 immediately on Captain Hobson's arrvial in New Zealand the church was used as a public hall and the first... 

 IcemanNZL Says:  On Flagstaff Hill is the site of the flagpole erected in January 1858. After being unceremoniously cut down not once but four times but Hone Heke and his men.On this spot was erected in the year 1840 the first official signal Flagstaff after the signing of the Treaty of... 

 IcemanNZL Says:  This historic house was designed by W.H.Clayton, the Colonial Architect in the late 1860's. First occupied in 1870. It served as a custom house until the 1890's.It became a Police Station and residence in the early 1900s and is still being used today.The adjacent Morton Bay... 

 Dodo22 Says:  There are a number of tour operators offering dolphin watching trips around the Bay of Islands. There is something magical about dolphins and these ones in particular were very enchanting. There were 4 of them in total that spent their time surfing the bow wave or putting on... 

 worldkiwi Says:  The quickest way to get to Russell is by ferry from Paihia. There is a road, but it is long and windy and probably quite exhausting. The AA in New Zealand classifies it as a dangerous road.The ferries from Paihia, across the Bay run roughly every twenty minutes up to about... 

 IcemanNZL Says:  Russell is only 3Km across the bay from Paihia and ferries cross the harbour frequently. The blue and white ferries slowly cross the harbour, but if you are in for a bit of fun then jump on the red ferry, this ferry is smaller and im sure the driver is a speed freak. With... 

 Kate-Me Says:

 Kate-Me Says:  Though there aren't a lot of shops in the streets of Russell, there are several buildings with nice, colonial type architecture to admire, like the scenes below. 

 worldkiwi Says:  Maiki, or Flagstaff Hill, above Russell is where you can learn about the turbulent period of the mid 1800s. This is where local Maori showed their anger at the way the colonial adminstration was running things. They cut the flagpole down four times here. However, they later...