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Bay of Islands Complete Guide

In our ‘Complete Guide’ series, we’re going to be visiting some of New Zealand’s most popular tourist destinations and getting the inside track from our GO Explore followers on the best places to stay, eat, drink, sunbathe and more. Instead of just finding out what the guidebooks tell you, find out what the locals and the travellers think when it comes to the best place to get an ice cream, the best fish and chips and the best cocktail you’ll ever taste!

The next in our series of Complete Guides takes us to the Bay of Islands on the North Island, just a short three and a half hour drive from Auckland and home to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches, beautiful views and the rare occurrence of two oceans colliding. If you’re planning a trip to the far north, you’re in for an absolute treat. Let’s get GOing!

Popular places to stay in the Bay of Islands

The first thing to decide when you travel to the Bay of Islands is where you want to stay. Not which hotel, but which of the stunning towns you want to base yourself for a few days or longer. The Bay of Islands is definitely not short of quaint seaside towns and each come with their own plus points. Here are the top three places to stay according to our GO Explore fans:

  • Paihia

    Paihia

    Without doubt the most popular place to stay up in the Bay of Islands is the seafront town of Paihia. This place has a bit of something for everyone from backpacker accommodation to luxury five star hotels. Paihia is the hub of most of the activit

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    Without doubt the most popular place to stay up in the Bay of Islands is the seafront town of Paihia. This place has a bit of something for everyone from backpacker accommodation to luxury five star hotels. Paihia is the hub of most of the activities in the Bay of Islands from the cruises out to explore the islands and the famous hole in the rock to scenic helicopter flights to relaxing on the beach. It’s also home to some great restaurants and places to grab a drink making it the ideal place to base yourself for exploring the Bay of Islands.

  • Russell

    Russell

    If you are looking for something a bit more relaxed and not quite as tourist-laden, Russell is also a great option. Situated right across the bay from Paihia, Russell is steeped in history and has a very laid back feel. There is a regular ferry se

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    If you are looking for something a bit more relaxed and not quite as tourist-laden, Russell is also a great option. Situated right across the bay from Paihia, Russell is steeped in history and has a very laid back feel. There is a regular ferry service across from Paihia so Russell still gets a high volume of tourist traffic but it always feels a bit more sleepy. The accommodation option in Russell are very different and you will be looking more at holiday homes and boutique B&Bs rather than hotels and motels.

  • Taipa Beach

    Taipa Beach

    If you want to get a bit further off the tourist trail and go for somewhere a bit more secluded, then Taipa Beach close to Coppers Beach and Cable Bay is a great option. With views looking straight out into Doubtless Bay, this sleepy village is de

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    If you want to get a bit further off the tourist trail and go for somewhere a bit more secluded, then Taipa Beach close to Coppers Beach and Cable Bay is a great option. With views looking straight out into Doubtless Bay, this sleepy village is definitely off the beaten track although there are still some good accommodation options. This is also quite a good place to base yourself if you are planning a trip up to the northern most tip of the North Island at Cape Reinga as it can be a long drive from Paihia or Russell.

Worthy of an honourable mention is Kerikeri which is definitely a town to add to your list of places to visit on your trip to Northland. Kerikeri is home to New Zealand’s oldest Stone Building as well as some great walks and waterfalls. There is no shortage of accommodation options and it is a little quieter than the busy towns of Paihia and Russell.

Best accommodation in the Bay of Islands

Obviously there are a lot of places to choose from when you are picking your accommodation for the Bay of Islands – whilst most people will choose to head to Paihia and Russell, we asked our GO Explorers for their top tips and this is what they came back with:

Admiral’s View Lodge and Motel - Paihia

Admiral’s View Lodge and Motel is one of the most popular motels in Paihia and offers a range of good quality self-contained accommodation. The motel definitely reaps the rewards of the stunning seaviews and the terraces offer up some pretty awesome sea views. Another big selling point of the Admiral’s View Lodge is its proximity to the centre of Paihia – just a short 2 minute walk will get you to the shops and restaurants as well as Paihia Wharf where all water-based activities depart.

Paihia Beach Resort and Spa

If you are looking for something a bit more upmarket when you visit the Bay of Islands, the Paihia Beach Resort and Spa ticks a lot of boxes. This beautiful boutique resort is focussed on providing the ultimate relaxing environment for guests and as well as offering a pool and spa facilities, also has an on-site restaurant offering up great views out across the water. Each guest room is furnished to a high standard and every room features a 6ft spa bath as well as the usual mod-cons like flat screen TVs and Sky TV. Many of the rooms have private balconies or patios that offer up stunning views so if you want to kick back and relax in style – this is the place for you.

Hananui Lodge and Apartments - Russell

Talking about luxury, we already mentioned that Russell is not your usual holiday destination with more holiday homes and boutique B&Bs than motels and hotels. The Hananui Lodge and Apartments are right up there with the best of these and they like to think of themselves as one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets (sorry to spread the word!!).  Located right on the waterfront in Russell, the lodge enjoys uninterrupted views of the bay and whilst the apartments don’t have sea views, they are only a short walk from the water’s edge. This is a great place for couples to enjoy a romantic weekend away but also a great place to bring your family.

Ramada Resort - Reia Taipa Beach

Located up in the Coopers Beach/Taipa Beach area is the beautiful Ramada Resort. This beachfront resort is situated in the heart of Doubtless Bay and offers some absolutely stunning views out over the water. If you are looking for something that is centrally located and only a relatively short drive to Cape Reinga and Paihia, then Taipa Beach is a great spot. It’s a lot more secluded and off the beaten track than Paihia and Russell and is a good option if you are looking for a couple of nights off the tourist trail.

Orongo Bay Holiday Park - Russell

We wanted to include some off the beaten track options in our list and thanks to one of our GO Explorers Matt, we’ve got the perfect place! The Orongo Bay Holiday Park in Russell is a pretty unique place to camp as it is set in 14 acres in a kiwi and weka protection zone meaning you can hear and see these rare New Zealand animals in their native environment. As well as camping, the park offers cabins, cottages and bungalows catering for all budgets and is only a short drive or walk from historic Russell.

Stewart Home Holidays - Paihia

Thanks to our GO Explorer Carly, we got a great little tip on a gem of a place in Paihia which is available through Bookabach. The place is run by Stewart Home Holidays and is a quaint little apartment which is situated underneath the main house of a lovely older couple. With two bedrooms, a kitchen, lounge and bathroom, this is a home away from home. Where things really get good is when you step out onto the balcony. The house is located in native bushland with uninterrupted views across the bay and is stunning. There is a small plunge pool situated in the gardens and the place is a real treat.

Best places to eat out in the Bay of Islands

There are hidden gems all across the Bay of Islands which is why it’s a good job we have our GO Explorers to help you to pick out some of the best. Here are some of top restaurants, takeaways and cafes in the Bay of Islands – let us know what you think.

Best beaches in the Bay of Islands and Northland

As you would imagine, the Bay of Islands and Northland region is not short on amazing beaches. Whether you are looking to kick back and relax with a good book or you are looking for a great walk, one of these amazing beaches should tick your boxes. Take a peek at the top five beaches in Northland:

Most people heading to the Bay of Islands come up here because of the huge range of activities you can get stuck in to. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie, a nature lover or you just enjoy looking at some amazing views, the Bay of Islands has it all. With so many activities to choose from, planning your trip to the Bay of Islands can be tricky which is why we have pulled together this list of our top nine activities to try when you’re up in the Bay of Islands:

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