Region
Bay of Islands
Base in Paihia for 2–3 nights; ferry to Russell for a day, cruise the islands once, and skip the rest.
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Key facts · New Zealand
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Currency
- New Zealand dollar
- Language
- English, te reo Māori and NZ Sign Language are official
- Plugs
- I · 230 V
- Time zone
- NZST UTC+12
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- New Zealand ↗Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA (with the tourism levy) before travel, including many transit passengers; others need a visa. Apply only through Immigration New Zealand or its official app, and check the rules for your passport.
- New Zealand ↗Declare all food, plant and animal products, and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents, on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; undeclared risk items bring instant fines.
- New Zealand ↗Drive on the left; give way as signed at one-lane bridges; an English-language licence or one with an approved translation or International Driving Permit is required.
- New Zealand ↗Freedom camping is restricted: sleep in a vehicle only where signed as allowed, and in many places only in certified self-contained vehicles.
The Bay of Islands is a sheltered cluster of about 140 islands around Paihia, Waitangi and Russell, 3 hours north of Auckland by road. It is New Zealand's founding-history site — the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed at Waitangi in 1840 — and the water is the point: a boat out to the islands, the Hole in the Rock and Cape Brett. Two nights covers Waitangi, one cruise and Russell; three nights adds Kerikeri and a slower day. Sleep in Paihia for ferries and tours, in Russell for quiet, in Kerikeri for the airport and cheaper beds.
Where to sleep
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 2 nights
- Paihia 2: Waitangi half-day, one island cruise, Russell by ferry
- 3 nights
- Paihia 2 + Kerikeri 1 (Stone Store, Puketi Forest, airport next morning)
- A one-day tour from Auckland means 6–7 hours in a coach and about 3 hours on the ground — stay the night instead.
- Summer cruises and the Paihia–Russell ferry sell out on fine holiday weekends; book the cruise a day ahead.
- The bay is sheltered but the open run to Cape Brett can be rough; take seasickness precautions if prone.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell | Paihia | 15 min | check | Ferry is about 10–15 min; last sailing is early evening — check the day's timetable. |
| Kerikeri | Paihia | 30 min | unknown | Stone Store and Kemp House, Mission Station; drive, no useful train. |
| Cape Brett | Paihia | 60 min | unknown | Usually seen by boat past the Hole in the Rock; the walkway is a multi-day tramp. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding needed inside the bay; if you are driving on to Hokianga or Cape Reinga, keep bags in the car.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paihia | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × | × | ok | ok | go | go |
| Russell | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × | × | ok | ok | ok | go |
| Kerikeri | ok | go | go | go | ok | × | × | × | ok | ok | go | ok |
| New Zealand (country-wide) | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay of IslandsPaihia, Russell, Kerikeri and the coast | best | best | ok | ok | cool | cool | cool | cool | ok | ok | best | best |
- Bay of Islands
- Subtropical: warmest and driest Dec–Mar (25–27 °C (77–81 °F) days), wettest and windiest Jun–Aug. Water is warmest Feb–Mar.Subtropical: warmest and driest Dec–Mar (77–81 °F (25–27 °C) days), wettest and windiest Jun–Aug. Water is warmest Feb–Mar.
December to March is the peak; book beds and cruises ahead for late Dec–early Jan. Shoulder months (Oct–Nov, Apr) are quieter with cooler water.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland (road) | Paihia | State Highway 1 north via Whangārei and Kawakawa | 3–3.5 h drive | One-lane bridges and holiday traffic; top up fuel before the last stretch. |
| Auckland (coach) | Paihia | InterCity or sightseeing coach | about 4 h | Daily departures; some coaches include a Waitangi stop. Book ahead in summer. |
| Auckland Airport (AKL) | Kerikeri (KKE) | Scheduled flight | about 45 min | Several flights a day; Kerikeri is about 25 min from Paihia by road. |
Regional passes
Paihia–Russell ferry
buyAbout $6 one way, $10 return (2026 estimate); no pass needed.
Island cruise (Hole in the Rock / Cape Brett)
buyHalf-day trips run from Paihia and Russell; book one, not two — the routes overlap.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds entry
buyDay pass covers the museum, grounds and a guided tour; check current price and hours.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Green-lipped mussels and fresh fish | Paihia waterfront | Local aquaculture; lunch menus cost less than dinner. |
| Fish and chips | Paihia, Russell | Takeaway and eat by the wharf; kitchens close early outside summer. |
| Café brunch | Kerikeri | The town has the widest café choice; useful before or after the airport. |
Go next
Northland
plannedSH1 north or south
The wider region: Whangārei, Waipoua kauri, Hokianga.
Hokianga
plannedAbout 45 min from Kerikeri, 60 min from Paihia
Sand dunes, Tāne Mahuta and Mangungu Mission.
Far Far North
plannedSH1 to Kaitaia, then Cape Reinga
Ninety Mile Beach and the lighthouse; a long day from Paihia.
Lower Northland
plannedSH1 south
On the way back to Auckland.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 3 bases
- Day trips
- 3, 15 min to 1 h
- Nights suggested
- 2–3 nights
- Ways in
- 3 listed
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
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