Bay of Islands
Islands in the Bay of Islands
Urupukapuka Island © Camilla Rutherford LEFT: Kayaking in the Bay of Islands © Adventure HQ
Island Hopping Cruises Whether you choose to go for a half-day, full-day, sundowner cruise or overnight sojourn, see the best of the bay with a fully staffed cruise. Explore islands and heritage, gather your own fresh seafood and spend hours in the water.
Urupukapuka Island The largest of the Bay’s islands, accessible by boat from Paihia Wharf or Russell. Pack for swimming, snorkelling, walks ranging from 20 minutes to two-and-a-half hours and take your wallet for the beach café. A short nap in a beach-fronting beanbag isn’t a bad idea either.
Bay of Islands
Walks
ŌPUA FOREST: 30 MINUTES RETURN This easy, short walk reaches an elevated platform surrounded by kauri trees. The youngsters are just 25 years old, but their ancestors are aged over 400. CAPE BRETT TRACK – 8 HOURS, ONE WAY Not for the faint hearted, this elevated 16km tramp may be on the hard side but thankfully there are plenty of heavenly bays to drop into. Allocating two days is advisable, with an overnight stop at the striking DOC hut.
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Snorkelling Motuarohia Island’s twin lagoons are flush with sea life, including the odd stingray if you’re lucky. Excellent snorkelling is also found off Army Bay on Moturua Island. Deep Water Cove Snorkelling The Bay of Islands only no-fishing area is Maunganui Bay, also known as Deep Water Cove. Water clarity reaches 20m; an entire city of fish life exists in its boundary. Book a Bay of Islands snorkelling excursion departing Paihia or Russell.
Island Hopping by Kayak You can visit at least three islands on a one to three-day adventure. Hire
RAINBOW FALLS WALK – 10 MINUTES ONE WAY An eight-minute drive from central Kerikeri, the walkway to this stunning 27m-high waterfall is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. The 400m one-way track leads to three viewing platforms. BAY OF ISLANDS COASTAL WALKWAY – APPROX. 5.5 HOURS This full circle walk from Paihia to Russell includes two ferry crossings. There are various access points to start and finish your journey. PUKETI FOREST WALKS – 10 MINUTES TO 5 HOURS The Puketi and Omahuta forests offer a diverse range of walking opportunities with many pathways
a tandem kayak from Paihia and push off from Long Beach – it’s the closest mainland beach to the first island, Motuarohia Island.
Guided Kayaking No need to go it alone. Join a Bay of Islands kayaking group for an afternoon of guided exploration to discover several outer motu, hidden caves and marine mammals.
Camp on Urupukapuka Island Six separate DOC walks will keep you busy for days and you can stay at one of three shorefront DOC campsites.
Water taxis Take away the energy
required to see the islands by kayak and what do you have? A water taxi. One of the easiest, quickest ways to hop from isle to isle.
The Cream Trip In the 1920s a service was established to facilitate the islands’ dairy farms, to drop off supplies and pick up fresh farm cream. Sightseers started going along for the ride and the trip subsequently became a daily commercial tour.
R. Tucker Thompson Experience the Bay of Islands the old-fashioned way with a cruise on the R. Tucker Thompson, a traditional gaff-rigged schooner.
TOP TIP: Perching dramatically beneath the Cape Brett lighthouse, the nearby DOC hut and campsite is $20pp a night and boasts one of the best views in New Zealand to wake up to.
suitable for children. Most tracks are classed as easy but for something with gusto, try the twohour Pukatea Ridge Track or the two-day Waipapa River Track. TE RUAPEKAPEKA PĀ – 30-MINUTE LOOP Five years after signing The Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, mounting discord between British colonial forces and northern Māori culminated in the battle of Ruapekapeka Pā. This looped route passes both the British position and the pā’s turrets and pits, dug by Māori to deflect British artillery.
MANGINANGINA KAURI WALK – 15 MINUTES RETURN Winding through giant kauri trees, swamp forest and vegetation, the boardwalk accommodates buggies and wheelchairs. Find it by ducking off SH 10 for a 15-minute detour, 20km west of Kerikeri. URUPUKAPUKA ISLAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL WALK – 5 HOURS Follows the outer edge of the island passing various archaeological features. Behind Indico Bay a short walk leads to a dam and wildlife hide.
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