Bay of Islands Activity Highlights
Bay of Islands | Regional Information | Activity Highlights | Scenic Highlights | History
The Bay of Islands are an aquatic playground. Swim with the dolphins, dive the Rainbow Warrior, go game fishing, or discover the history and culture of the Bay of Islands.
Bay of Islands Activity Highlights Overview
Country cafes, gourmet restaurants, kayaking, swimming with dolphins, touching history, walking coastal tracks, seeing Māori war canoes, game fishing, cruising, resting. The Bay of Islands has an abundance of different kinds of experiences to connect with the people and culture, ocean and land.
Visit Cape Brett Lighthouse by walking track or take a boat to Grand Cathedral Cave or 'the hole in the rock'. Follow big game fisherman and American Western writer Zane Grey who caught marlin here in 1921. Be guided through historic sites with story-telling. Feel the roar of noise at Haruru Falls, a rare horseshoe-shaped waterfall that flows to the legendary 'taniwha' or water monster in the lagoon below.
Walk along a red pohutukawa tree blossom-strewn golden sand beach. See whales, penguins, seals and listen to the songs of seabirds. Have a round of golf on the most majestic of courses. Ride a jet-ski in the hot sun, sit in the shade with an iced tea. Always in the Bay of Islands you can feel the past close behind while anticipating the pleasure of what's to come.
Playtime in the Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an aquatic playground lavishly furnished with 144 islands and a myriad of secluded beaches.
- Go swimming with dolphins, sailing, big game fishing and kayaking
- Take the 'Hole in the Rock' cruise to the tip of Cape Brett
- Visit Waitangi National Reserve, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840
- Look around Pompallier, in Russell, an original rammed earth Catholic Missionary House
- Walk to Haruru Falls—three kilometres from Paihia. The water falls in a horse shoe shape—very rare and quite spectacular
» Bay of Islands Attractions and Activities
Dive the Rainbow Warrior
Matauri Bay is the final resting place of the Greenpeace flagship, the Rainbow Warrior. Dive trips to the Rainbow Warrior operate out of Matauri Bay and Paihia.
Kerikeri History, Art and Fruit
Kerikeri is a fascinating town with a local community of orchardists and artists.
- View the Stone Store and Mission House, examples of early New Zealand architecture
- Follow the art and craft trail to get to know some of the artisans
- Call into Bishopswood Estate—two wineries and a boutique chocolate factory
- Spend a day at Kauri Cliffs Golf Club and Lodge
- See kiwis in their natural environment at Aroha Ecological Centre
- On the way to Kerikeri, stop in at Kawakawa to visit the famous 'Hundertwasser' designed toilets
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Bay of Islands Region Information
Regional Information
Key information and facts about the Bay of Islands region.
Activity Highlights
Major activities and attractions in the Bay of Islands region.
Scenic Highlights
Major natural attractions in the Bay of Islands region.
History
History of the Bay of Islands region.
Bay of Islands Tourism Operators
Choose from our accommodation, attractions, tours, transport or visitor information categories below to find a tourism operator in Bay of Islands.