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Baywatcher

An insider's guide to the Bay of Islands, New Zealand

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Quickstart guide to the Bay of Islands

If you’re new to this website (and the Bay of Islands), here’s a quick guide to help you get started.

Paihia, Russell and Opua are the best-known towns in the Bay of Islands – but remember to explore Kerikeri on the other side of the bay too, it’s worth it!

  • Paihia: This is where most of the hotels and motels are, plus most of the water activities are based here. There are also white sandy beaches and a good selection of restaurants… little wonder that most tourists choose Paihia as their base for exploring the Bay of Islands.
  • Russell: Briefly the capital of New Zealand, and once known as the “hell hole of the pacific” due to it being a lawless community with high levels of prostitution. These days, Russell is a quaint seaside village with waterfront dining and holiday cottages. Get to Russell by ferry (recommended) or else a long, winding road. The foot passenger ferry departs from Paihia, or there’s a car ferry from Opua. The car ferry arrives in Okiato, rather than Russell itself, so there’s a short drive drive of about 10 minutes to get to Russell.
  • Opua: Opua is the port where most overseas boats and ships clear Customs when arriving in New Zealand after crossing the Pacific Ocean. Sailing and boating is a key focus in this small town, which has a large and busy marina. This is where the car ferry to Russell departs from.
  • Kerikeri: Larger than Paihia, Russell and Opua; Kerikeri has plenty of accommodation options, plus shops, restaurants/cafes and things to explore. Its rich volcanic soil makes it a popular horticultural area. Kerikeri is also known for its inlet, historical buildings, amazing food and yummy wineries. There’s a sailing club and marina at Dove’s Bay on the north side of the Kerikeri Inlet.

Here’s a Bay of Islands map to help you get a feel as to what’s where:

 

Read articles about Kerikeri, Opua, Paihia and Russell.

Bay of Islands 101

Bay of Islands weatherBay of Islands weather: what to expect

How much sun (and rain) can you expect on your visit to Paihia, Opua, Russell & Kerikeri? Discover the weather trends for the Bay of Islands, so you can make the most of your visit.
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Bay of Islands transport: how to get to (and around) the Bay of Islands

Your Bay of Islands transport options include aeroplane, bus/coach, car ferry, foot passenger ferry – as as driving. See what options are available, and where the transport links are.
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Top 3 things to bring with you when you visit the Bay of Islands3 must-bring items for your vacation in the Bay of Islands

Discover the things I can’t live without, as a resident in the Bay of Islands! I’d highly recommend you bring these 3 items on holiday with you (or be prepared to buy them here in the Bay of Islands).
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The smallest value coin in New Zealand is 10 cents - so when you're paying in cash, prices are rounded up or down to the nearest 10 cents.7 weird facts about New Zealand holidays

New Zealand’s a wonderful place, but when I first arrived there were a few weird quirks that had me scratching my head. To save you from some of this confusion, here are my insider tips for your New Zealand holidays.
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About Baywatcher: Bay of Islands travel blog

Baywatcher.nz is an insider's guide to food, wine, beaches, sailing, kayaking and dog-friendly places in the Bay of Islands.

Baywatcher's blogger is Kerikeri-based Cornelia Luethi, who creates words, pictures, websites and books for clients throughout New Zealand, and worldwide. Find out more →

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