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Bay Of Islands Itinerary

We've put together a suggested itinerary for your stay in the beautiful Bay of Islands in Northland. 

Day 1 - Russell  - Paihia
  • Cruising into Russell, Bay of IslandsHead across to Russell by ferry for the morning and explore the township's numerous historic buildings, including Christ's Church, Pompallier House and the Russell Museum (2 hours).
  • Walk up Flagstaff (Maiki) Hill and read of the flagstaff's history and the exploits of Maori chief Hone Heke, who cut the previous four down in protest (30 minutes).
  • Return to the waterfront for lunch.
  • Cross again to Paihia and take a stroll along the beachfront to Waitangi (30 minutes). 
  • Continue to the Waitangi Treaty House Reserve and explore te whare runanga (meeting house), waka (canoe) and grounds (2.5 hrs).
  • Either have dinner in Paihia or take the ferry to Russell and dine at the atmospheric Duke of Marlborough - the first hotel in New Zealand to receive a licence.
  • Stay overnight in Paihia.
  • Russell travel guide
  • Waitangi travel guide
  • Paihia travel guide
  • Paihia accommodation
  • Paihia attractions

Day 2 - Paihia    

  • Paihia, Bay of IslandsSpend a half or full day on the water. Operators include Dolphin Encounters, the Cape Brett 'Hole in the Rock' cruise, the Cream Trip, the tall ship R Tucker Thomson and Dolphin Discoveries.
  • Lunch is often included during an island stopover.
  • If on a half-day outing, return to Paihia for an afternoon of shopping at the Cabbage Tree - an award-winning outlet. Try one of the centre's numerous restaurants in the evening.
  • Stay the night in Paihia.
  • Paihia accommodation
  • Paihia attractions

Day 3 - Paihia    

  • Parasailing, PaihiaTake a fishing, diving or kayaking adventure with Coastal Kayakers. Alternatively, take to the skies with Flying Kiwi Parasail for a bird's eye view over Paihia.
  • Stay the night in Paihia.
  • Paihia accommodation
  • Paihia attractions

Day 4 - Paihia - Kerikeri    

  • Drive to Kerikeri (30 mins).
  • Pick up an arts and craft trail brochure while in Kerikeri and visit the Kerikeri Historic Basin, which incorporates Kemp House (40 minutes), New Zealand's oldest house; the Stone Store (20 minutes) and Rewa's Village (1 hour).
  • Take a walk to the 20m Kerikeri (Rainbow) Stone Store, KerikeriFalls two kilometres upstream from the Basin (1 hour).
  • For lunch either return to Kerikeri or find an eatery along the arts and craft trail.
  • Spend the rest of the afternoon tailoring visits to the various arts and craft outlets and call at some of numerous roadside fruit stalls to sample the region's produce.
  • Stay in Kerikeri or at one of the surrounding bed and breakfasts.
  • Kerikeri travel guide
  • Kerikeri accommodation
  • Kerikeri attractions

Day 5 - Kerikeri - Kaikohe - Ninety Mile Beach - Kaitaia

  • Head inland towards Kaikohe (30 minutes from Kerikeri) along SH12.
  • Call at Monument Hill, which has a Memorial to Maori chief Hone Heke (1869-1909).
  • Visit the Pioneer Village with its 19th century buildings, sawmill and fire station.
  • Have morning tea before rejoining State Highway 1 and heading towards Kaitaia (70 minutes) for lunch.
  • Head west to Ahipara, the gateway to Ninety Mile Beach. Visit the beach (famous for its fishing) and call at Ahipara Hill, four kilometres south-east of Ahipara township. The land at the base of the 150m high hill is a former kauri gum field, now a historic reserve.
  • Alternatively, visit New Zealand's northernmost winery, three kilometres out of town at Okahu Estate.
  • Return to Kaitaia and continue along State Highway 1 to Awanui, seven kilometres north. Call at the Ancient Kauri Kingdom and Café for afternoon tea and view the kauri furniture and arts and craft.
  • Dine and stay overnight in Kaitaia.
  • Kaikohe travel guide
  • Ahipara travel guide
  • Kaitaia travel guide
  • Kaitaia accommodation
  • Kaitaia attractions

Day 6 - Cape Reinga - Kaitaia  

  • Te Paki DunesDrive or take a tour to Cape Reinga. Operators include Sand Safaris, Harrisons Cape Runner and Tua Tua Tours. Pack a picnic lunch if driving yourself. Contrary to popular belief, Cape Reinga is not the northernmost point of New Zealand; that honour belongs to Surville Cliffs, 30km east of Cape Reinga.
  • Call at Wagener Holiday Park at Houhora Heads, 40km north of Kaitaia, and take morning tea at its beachfront licensed cafe.
  • Continue northwards to Cape Reinga (114km north-west of Kaitaia). See the famous lighthouse, Spirits Bay and the meeting point of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
  • Return to Te Paki with its impressive sand dunes. There are many tour companies supplying toboggans and all supply lunch.
    Return to Kaitaia to dine and stay overnight.
  • Cape Reinga travel guide
  • Kaitaia travel guide
  • Kaitaia accommodation
  • Kaitaia attractions

Day 7 - Kaitaia - Rawene - Waipoua Forest - Dargaville    

  • Art and craft in the HokiangaOnce again head towards Ahipara to regain State Highway 12. Head southwards to Kohukohu for the crossing to Rawene on the vehicle ferry Kohu Ra Tuarua.
  • Call at Rawene's historic Clendon House (30 minutes). 
  • Walk the mangrove walk and stop for morning tea at the Boatshed Café and Crafts.
  • Continue southwards to the twin settlements of Opononi and Omapere, which access the sand dunes across the inlet.
  • Lunch at either Opononi or Omapere.
  • Continue south through the Waipoua Forest and make a side trip to see Tane Mahuta, a kauri tree thought to be some 2000 years old. A variety of forest and coastal walks are available, ranging from 20 minutes to a few hours.
  • Head towards Dargaville for the night, with the Blah Blah Blah café a dining option.
  • Rawene travel guide
  • Opononi travel guide
  • Omapere travel guide
  • Dargaville travel guide
  • Dargaville accommodation
  • Dargaville attractions

Day 8 - Dargaville - Matakohe - Whangarei - Auckland    

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