Where New Zealand Was Born
The Bay of Islands is where modern New Zealand began. On 6 February 1840, at Waitangi, representatives of the British Crown and more than 500 Ngāpuhi rangatira (chiefs) signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi — the founding document of the New Zealand nation and a living document whose implications continue to shape the country. The Treaty Grounds at Waitangi are the most historically significant site in New Zealand, and the on-site museum and cultural experience are among the finest in the country. If you visit the Bay of Islands and skip Waitangi, you’ve missed the point.
But the bay is far more than history. The 144 islands of this subtropical pocket of Northland are sheltered, warm and extraordinary to explore by boat — from the daily dolphin-watching cruises that reliably encounter bottlenose dolphins, to the sailing trips threading between forested islands to the dramatic arch of the Hole in the Rock at Cape Brett. Across the water, Russell (Kororareka) — New Zealand’s first European settlement, once described by Charles Darwin as a hellhole of wickedness — is today a charming village of colonial timber buildings, a working lighthouse and the best pubs in Northland. Paihia is the main tourist base, connected to Russell by a five-minute passenger ferry. Kerikeri, 25 minutes inland, holds New Zealand’s two oldest European buildings and one of the country’s best collections of artisan food producers.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi — 6 February 1840
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds on the shores of the Bay of Islands. It established the framework for the relationship between the Crown and Māori as tangata whenua. Waitangi Day — 6 February — is New Zealand’s national day. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds and the adjacent Te Kongo Waka museum are essential visits — among the most important and moving cultural experiences available to any visitor to New Zealand.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds: The Complete Visitor Guide
The most historically significant site in New Zealand — where Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840. This guide covers the museum (Te Kongo Waka), the Māori cultural performance and hāngī experience, the Treaty House and flagstaff, the 35-metre war canoe (wāka taua), the coastal walk, and why even those who think they don’t care about colonial history leave profoundly moved.
Read Guide →Bay of Islands Travel Guides
In-depth guides to every experience in the bay and Northland — history, water, wildlife and beyond.
Hole in the Rock: The Bay of Islands Boat Tour Guide
The 35-metre natural arch at Cape Brett is the Bay of Islands’ defining experience — approached by boat through the outer islands, with dolphins riding the bow wave en route. This guide compares the Fullers Great Sights cruise, sailing options and what conditions affect whether you can sail through the arch.
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Russell (Kororareka): New Zealand’s First European Town
Once called “the hellhole of the Pacific” and New Zealand’s first European settlement — today Russell is a charming village of colonial timber cottages, the country’s oldest church (Christ Church, 1836), Pompallier Mission, Flagstaff Hill and excellent waterfront restaurants. Reached by a five-minute passenger ferry from Paihia.
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Dolphin & Whale Watching in the Bay of Islands
Resident bottlenose dolphins inhabit the Bay of Islands year-round and frequently approach boats. Common dolphins, orcas and humpback whales (July–September) are also encountered. This guide covers the best operators, what to expect, the difference between “swimming with dolphins” and a standard wildlife cruise, and the DOC permit system.
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Cape Reinga & Ninety Mile Beach Day Trip
The tip of the North Island — where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean and the souls of the Māori dead begin their journey to the ancestral homeland of Hawaiki. The day tour from Paihia crosses Ninety Mile Beach (driving on the sand), visits the Cape Reinga lighthouse, sandboards the Te Paki dunes and includes the Waipoua kauri forest (Tāne Mahuta, the world’s largest kauri).
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Kerikeri & Northland: A Food Lover’s Guide
Kerikeri is the food capital of Northland — subtropical climate, fertile soils and a community of artisan producers growing everything from avocados and kiwifruit to olives, oranges and macadamias. The Kerikeri Basin holds New Zealand’s oldest stone building (Stone Store, 1836) alongside excellent cafes, the Kerikeri Farmers’ Market (Saturday mornings) and several excellent cellar doors.
Coming Soon
Bay of Islands Sailing: Day Sails, Overnight Charters & Bare Boats
The Bay of Islands is one of New Zealand’s premier sailing grounds — protected water, reliable winds, 144 anchorages and the entire Hole in the Rock circuit. Day sailing experiences (swimming, snorkelling, dolphin encounters) versus multi-night bareboat charters for licensed sailors. What to expect, costs and the best anchorages.
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