Bay of Islands

A sheltered bay of 144 islands three hours north of Auckland, based at Paihia. At the Waitangi Treaty Grounds the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori chiefs: the meeting house, the great war canoe and the museum are New Zealand's most important historic site. Ferries cross to Russell, once the "hellhole of the Pacific"; boat trips go out to the Hole in the Rock and dolphin watching. Subtropical and warm, with the best weather December to March.

Highlights

• Waitangi Treaty Grounds and the war canoe
• Hole in the Rock cruise
• Dolphin watching
• Historic Russell
• Urupukapuka Island walks
• Kayaking to Haruru Falls
• Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach day trip

Things to do

• Waitangi Treaty Grounds with cultural performanceMorning · 3h
• Hole in the Rock and dolphin cruiseAfternoon · 4h
• Ferry to Russell and Flagstaff HillAfternoon · 2h 30m
• Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach coach day tripMorning · 11h
• Kayak up the Waitangi River to Haruru FallsMorning · 3h

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: November – April

• Waitangi Day — New Zealand's national day, marking the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. The Treaty Grounds at Waitangi hold dawn services, a waka (war canoe) launch, speeches and a festival, free that day; Paihia's rooms book out weeks ahead. Expect political protest as well as celebration.
• Matariki (Māori New Year) — The rising of the Matariki (Pleiades) star cluster, a public holiday since 2022: dawn ceremonies, light shows, kai (food) festivals and star-viewing events across the country, biggest in Auckland and Wellington. A long weekend: domestic flights and ski towns are busier.
• Christmas and New Year holidays · 25 Dec – 2 Jan — New Zealand's main summer holiday: families head to the beaches and lakes, holiday parks and campervans are booked out, and Queenstown and Wānaka hold big New Year's Eve parties. Public holidays on 25-26 December and 1-2 January close some shops and add surcharges in cafés.