The Bay of Islands is such a special place to visit, with a great mix of history and gorgeous beaches. We celebrated New Year’s Eve in this stunning spot, and had great fun exploring the surrounds of Russell, Paihia and Opua.
When your view looks this good, why would you leave?
But seriously, this is one of the nicest Air BnB’s I’ve ever stayed in, with huge rooms, multiple wraparound decks and a giant spa pool. We were staying in Opua, a tiny settlement that is perfectly situated for exploring the Bay of Islands if you have a car. From there you’ve got easy access to Kerikeri, the ferries, and further north. If you haven’t signed up to Air BnB yet, feel free to use my discount code! If you don’t have a car, you may want to base yourself in Paihia or Kerikeri, as there’s plenty within walking distance and you’ll be able to connect to the attractions of the beautiful Bay of Islands more easily.
I’m a bit of a scaredy-cat and don’t normally like walking down abandoned paths with no-one around, but when I see a sign for a viewpoint (even such a battered one) I try to master my fears!
And it was totally worth it, with these epic views over the still harbour to Russell.
Russell / Kororareka
Russell, also known as Kororareka, was New Zealand’s first capital, is home to some of the country’s oldest buildings, and was also called the “Hellhole of the Pacific”! Happily these days it’s a beautiful spot, ideal for a day trip, with lots of history to soak up.
We chose to take the “soaking up” quite literally, by spending a significant part of our time in the beer garden of the Duke of Marlborough hotel. But worry not! We were also getting our culture fix – the Duke has been in operation since 1827, holding New Zealand’s first liquor licence.
Its beer garden is also just a lovely place to spend an afternoon – and the food is great there too!
Bessie and I briefly tore ourselves away from the chat and games to stroll Russell’s beautiful beachfront. It’s a perfect swimming beach – and mooring spot!
The Anglican Christ Church is the oldest church in New Zealand and its headstones hold many stories – sadly many of those gone too soon in maritime adventures. I know I’m not the only one with a slightly morbid fascination in finding family groups and little histories in a graveyard.
Bishop Pompallier’s House is the rival gang, being the place of the first Catholic Mission in New Zealand. Built in 1842 (yes, I promise that’s old for New Zealand European history!) it was also home to printing works, leather making and book-binding, all of which they now have on display again. It’s a really cool glimpse into New Zealand’s past.
The easiest way to get to Russell is to jump on the ferry at Paihia, or the car ferry at Opua if you want to explore a little further. Then you get views like this as the ferry pulls away as well – so gorgeous!
Joe’s cousins were staying at a hotel on the waterfront at Waitangi, so we set up camp for the last few hours of 2018 to watch the light fade from Russell, across the bay.
The last sunset of 2018 was pretty spectacular!
The first day of 2019 was a bit cloudy but the water at Paihia was beautifully warm, so we made sure to get our first swim of the year in!
Have you visited Russell, Paihia or Opua? What was your favourite part?
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