Bay Of Islands

Marine Life & Dolphin Cruising

The Bay’s sheltered waters are a year‑round dolphin hotspot, with common and bottlenose dolphins regularly seen bow‑riding alongsi…

Urupukapuka Island Day Trips

As the largest island in the bay, Urupukapuka offers walking tracks, secluded bays, a café, and, in summer, a passenger ferry link…

Cape Brett Lighthouse & Track Hikes

The Cape Brett Track is one of the North Island’s classic coastal hikes, culminating at the historic Cape Brett Lighthouse with sw…

A visceral, high‑speed boat ride through the 18‑metre‑high natural archway of Motukōkako (Piercy Island) is the region’s signature seafaring spectacle, with views of Cape Brett Lighthouse and excellent chances of spotting dolphins and seabirds. Few places in the world offer such an accessible, dramatic rock‑tunnel experience from a commercial cruise.

The Bay’s sheltered waters are a year‑round dolphin hotspot, with common and bottlenose dolphins regularly seen bow‑riding alongside boats; dedicated dolphin‑watch and eco‑cruises combine wildlife viewing with commentary on local marine ecology.

As the largest island in the bay, Urupukapuka offers walking tracks, secluded bays, a café, and, in summer, a passenger ferry link between Paihia and Russell, making it a go‑to island‑hopping base for swimming, snorkelling and light hiking.

The Cape Brett Track is one of the North Island’s classic coastal hikes, culminating at the historic Cape Brett Lighthouse with sweeping views back to the Hole‑in‑the‑Rock archway and the outer bay. Access is often via water taxi from the mainland, blending trekking and boating in one outing.

The sheltered nature of the bay makes traditional and modern sailing highly accessible, with casual harbour cruises, sunset sails, and inter‑town water taxis forming the transport backbone between Paihia, Russell and Opua.

As the birthplace of modern New Zealand, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds are the country’s most significant historical site for the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, featuring the Treaty House, carved meeting house and immersive cultural performances.

Local iwi host haka‑infused cultural shows, storytelling and guided experiences that connect early Māori life, whakapapa (genealogy) and Treaty history to the modern landscape of the Bay of Islands.

Dating to the 1830s, the Stone Store and Kemp House in Kerikeri form the oldest surviving European buildings in New Zealand, offering a hands‑on glimpse into early mission life, colonial trade and pre‑Treaty Northland.

The bay’s protected inlets and quiet bays are ideal for sea kayaking and stand‑up paddleboarding, letting visitors explore hidden coves, mangroves and bird‑rich estuaries at a quiet, human‑scale pace.

The Kauri Cliffs Golf Course, perched on dramatic headlands north of the bay, is a world‑class links layout that pairs championship‑calibre golf with cinematic coastal panoramas unique to this stretch of Northland.

Fixed‑wing seaplanes and helicopters lift visitors above the 144 islands, revealing intricate coastline patterns, the Hole‑in‑the‑Rock arch and Cape Brett from the air, a perspective few coastal regions allow so easily.

Internationally recognised since the 1930s for its marlin and game fish, the Bay of Islands remains a premier destination for multi‑day charter trips targeting billfish, tuna and other pelagic species.

Often called the “most photographed scene” in the Bay of Islands, Motuarohia’s linked lagoons provide a unique double‑beach experience, where visitors can swim between inner and outer bays through a narrow passage.

A quieter, lush‑green DOC‑managed island with clear‑water bays and walking trails, Moturua offers a serene contrast to busier islets and a chance to experience the bay’s subtropical flora in a protected setting.

Multi‑island ecotours string together stops at remote, photogenic islets such as Waewaetorea and the Hole‑in‑the‑Rock, mixing wildlife spotting, short walks and swimming into a full‑day narrative.

The former whaling town of Russell (once the country’s first capital) is famed for its colonial‑era buildings, waterfront promenades and laid‑back café culture, all hemmed in by a picturesque harbour arm.

Paihia’s marina surrounds host a cluster of seafood‑centric restaurants and bars serving freshly caught fish, mussels, crayfish and other local produce against a backdrop of anchored boats and passing ferries.

Just inland from the bay, the Ngāwha geothermal springs offer natural warm‑water pools and contemporary thermal‑wellness facilities, tied to Māori healing traditions and geothermal stories.

Kerikeri is the gateway to orchard country, where visitors can combine Stone Store visits with fruit‑picking tours, boutique wine tastings and local olive‑oil or honey‑tasting experiences.

Several waterfront and wharf‑front venues in Paihia and Russell function as casual over‑water lounges, where visitors sip craft beer and local wine with the gentle clink of rigging and the sound of lapping waves.

Urupukapuka Island is the only island‑camping site in the bay, with DOC‑operated campsites at Otehei Bay that let overnight visitors experience the islands’ tranquillity under starry skies.