Bay of Islands holidays

Bay of Islands A 3-hour drive or 35-minute flight north of Auckland, the Bay of Islands encompasses 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua peninsula. A popular choice for overnight stays is the historic township of Russell. Once the first capital of New Zealand, it has developed into a holiday destination with various museums, shops, restaurants and bars. Its busier neighbour across the bay is Paihia, close to the historic Treaty House at Waitangi, which marks the beginning of New Zealand as a nation.