By air
Bay of Islands, Kerikeri (KKE), ~25 km to Paihia
Australia & New Zealand · New Zealand
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Sailing, dolphins and the birthplace of the nation
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to March — summer
Don't miss
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Russell
Paihia
The Hole in the Rock
Things to do
Sailing
Dolphin cruises
The Hole in the Rock boat trip
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Fuadounet · CC BY-SA 2.0
What to pack
Swimwear, sunscreen
A quieter corner
Urupukapuka Island's walking tracks
Questions travellers ask
What time of year suits the Bay of Islands?
December to March, in summer. Bring swimwear and sunscreen.
How do I get to the Bay of Islands?
Fly into Kerikeri (KKE), the Bay of Islands airport, about 25 km from Paihia.
What is there to do in the Bay of Islands?
Go sailing, take a dolphin cruise or the Hole in the Rock boat trip, visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and explore Russell and Paihia. For a quieter day, try Urupukapuka Island's walking tracks.
What local food should I try in the Bay of Islands?
Fresh oysters, and fish and chips in Paihia.
About Bay of Islands
- Island
- Coastal
Where it is
The Bay of Islands is a sheltered bay in the Northland region at the top of New Zealand's North Island, dotted with about 144 islands and ringed by the towns of Paihia, Russell and Kerikeri.
History
The bay has long been a heartland of Ngāpuhi, and from the early 19th century it was the first place of sustained European contact in New Zealand, with whalers, traders and missionaries gathering at Kororāreka, now Russell. The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed here on 6 February 1840 between the British Crown and Māori chiefs, and nearby Okiato briefly served as the colony's first capital.
People
The Bay of Islands is the heartland of Ngāpuhi, New Zealand's largest iwi, and te reo Māori and English are both spoken. Waitangi Day on 6 February is marked at the Treaty Grounds with ceremonies, waka displays and cultural performances, and local life revolves around fishing, sailing and the citrus and kiwifruit orchards around Kerikeri.
Known for
- The Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Sailing among the islands
- Dolphin-watching cruises
- The Hole in the Rock at Cape Brett
- Historic Russell and Kerikeri
Did you know?
Kerikeri has both the oldest surviving building in New Zealand, the Kemp House, built in 1822, and the country's oldest stone building, the Stone Store.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.