Where to stay in the Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands offers a base for every style. Stay central and lively in Paihia, with cruises and ferries on your doorstep; retreat to historic, romantic Russell across the water; choose good-value Kerikeri a little inland; or find a luxury lodge tucked among the coves. Wherever you land, the water and the history are close. Here's how to choose.
Paihia, Russell & Kerikeri
Paihia is the easiest base — walkable, central, and the departure point for cruises, tours and the Russell ferry, with the most accommodation and dining and Waitangi alongside. Russell (Kororāreka), a short ferry away, is quieter and full of charm and history — lovely for a romantic stay. Kerikeri, a little inland, is a good-value town base near the Stone Store and the airport. See our Northland day trip.
Motels, lodges & B&Bs
Accommodation spans the full range — waterfront motels and holiday parks around Paihia, comfortable hotels and apartments, characterful bed-and-breakfasts in Russell, and secluded luxury lodges among the coves and countryside. Families are well catered for with self-contained units near the beaches, and there's something for every budget. See our beaches & water guide.
Where to stay: your questions
For first-timers, Paihia is the ideal base — central and walkable, with the wharf for cruises and ferries, the widest choice of accommodation and dining, and Waitangi next door. For charm and quiet, historic Russell is lovely (a short ferry away), while Kerikeri offers a good-value town base a little inland, and Opua suits boaties. See our Northland day trip.
Paihia is livelier and more convenient — most tours, cruises and the ferry leave from here, and it has the most places to stay and eat. Russell is quieter, prettier and more romantic, steeped in history, but with fewer services and reached by ferry. Many stay in Paihia for convenience, or split a stay to enjoy both. See our Russell & Paihia guide.
The full range — waterfront motels and holiday parks (especially around Paihia), hotels and apartments, boutique bed-and-breakfasts in Russell, and luxury lodges tucked among the coves and countryside. Families are well served with self-contained units near the beaches, and there's plenty for every budget. See our beaches & water guide.
Plan on 2–3 nights — enough for an island cruise, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and time in Russell and Kerikeri — and a fourth if you'd like the day trip to Cape Reinga. It's a relaxed base that rewards an unhurried stay in the subtropical north. See our best time to visit guide.
Yes — Kerikeri is the area's largest town, a little inland, with good-value accommodation, excellent cafés and the historic Stone Store basin on its doorstep. It's handy if you're flying into the airport here or touring the wider far north, though it's a short drive from the Paihia waterfront and cruises. See our Kerikeri guide.