Things to do in Bay of Islands
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Paihia: Hole in the Rock Cruise & Island SnorkelYou board at Paihia Wharf and spend 4.5 hours on the water: sailing through the Hole in the Rock, stopping on Roberton Island for a walk and views, passing Cape Brett Lighthouse, then anchoring at a second island where snorkel gear is provided and you can swim or relax on the beach. Lunch is your own or pre-ordered; all snorkel equipment is included.Is it for me?Book this if you want the Bay of Islands' main sights — the Hole in the Rock, two islands, snorkeling — in one morning without renting a boat or figuring out the stops yourself; the small-group format and local crew are what make the pace feel unhurried rather than rushed.
Bay of Islands Overnight Cruise Paihia: Snorkeling & KayakingYou board at Paihia Wharf in the afternoon and stay overnight in a shared cabin, snorkeling and kayaking in the Bay of Islands with meals and all activities included. Night kayaking, island walks, fishing and seafood collection happen across the 22 hours, guided by a crew that knows the water. No separate payments for entry or activities — everything is covered once you step aboard.Is it for me?Book this if you want to actually spend time in the Bay of Islands rather than rush through it in a day — the overnight format is what makes night kayaking, fishing at dusk and a full island walk possible without feeling squeezed.
Bay of Islands Tall Ship Sailing: Hoist Sails, Lunch IncludedSail the Bay of Islands on the R. Tucker Thompson, a traditional tall ship, for a half-day voyage where you can help hoist the sails, climb the rigging and walk secluded beaches, or simply relax with lunch and a drink from the licensed bar. The experience includes a chicken BBQ lunch, scones with cream and jam, tea and coffee, and a return ferry ticket between Paihia and Russell if required. A live English-speaking guide leads the voyage, and the ship is wheelchair accessible with accommodation for most mobility needs.Is it for me?Choose the Paihia departure if you're staying in the Bay of Islands town itself; pick Russell if you're based across the water. Either way, the five-and-a-half-hour voyage fits a half-day into your itinerary without eating a full morning or afternoon, and the lunch means you're not hunting for food elsewhere.
Bay of Islands: Glow Worm Caves, Haruru Falls & Chocolate TastingYou’ll follow local guides through misty Haruru Falls, sample handmade chocolates in Paihia, and step quietly into glow worm-lit caves—all with port pickup included. Expect laughter over coffee orders and moments of real wonder under those glowing ceilings. This isn’t just sightseeing; it’s small surprises and stories you’ll carry home.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds: Museum & Māori Performance Day PassYou get full access to two museums, a guided tour with headsets, a live cultural performance, and the grounds themselves with walking trails and views across the Bay of Islands. Your pass works for two consecutive days, so you can split the visit if you prefer. Admission includes everything — no separate fees at the door.Is it for me?Right for anyone spending time in the Bay of Islands who wants to understand New Zealand's founding story without arranging separate museum visits or cultural experiences — everything is in one place, and the two-day pass means you can return if something pulls you back.
Paihia Bay of Islands: 6-Hour Catamaran Cruise & Island SnorkelYou board a catamaran directly from Paihia beach and sail among 144 islands for six hours, including a two-hour stopover at a wildlife sanctuary where you choose between snorkeling, paddle boarding, or bush walks. Lunch, morning tea, all equipment and a local guide are included. The boat holds 16 to 20 people maximum and returns to the same beach by mid-afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full day on the water without arranging your own boat, equipment or island access — the catamaran, guide, lunch and all gear are sorted, and the two-hour island stopover gives you real time to snorkel or explore without feeling rushed.
Bay of Islands: Hole in the Rock Cruise & Island BBQ LunchYou’ll cruise past green islands from Paihia Wharf, spot dolphins with commentary from your skipper, squeeze through the Hole in the Rock if weather allows, then relax over a BBQ lunch at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island—with time to swim or hike before heading back. It’s not just scenery; it’s laughter, salt air, and stories you’ll carry home.
Paihia: Hole in the Rock Cruise & Dolphins Bay of IslandsYou board an air-conditioned boat in Paihia and cruise through the Bay of Islands' 144 islands, passing significant sights and wildlife with a skipper guide. You stop for 90 minutes on Urupukapuka Island to swim, walk, or relax at the café, then cruise through the famous Hole in the Rock before returning. The route is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book this if you want the Bay of Islands' main sights in a half-day without arranging your own boat or timing multiple stops — the fixed schedule and skipper guide handle the navigation and the story, leaving you to decide whether to swim, walk, or sit still on the island.
Cape Reinga & 90 Mile Beach: Full-Day Far North Tour from PaihiaYou ride in a 4x4 coach along 90 Mile Beach, stand at Cape Reinga lighthouse where two seas meet, sand board the Te Paki dunes (conditions permitting), and eat fresh lunch with a local guide who knows the Far North's history and Ngāti Kuri culture. Tides determine the stop order, so check in 15 minutes early and bring a change of clothes for the dunes.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to see the Far North's main landmarks — Cape Reinga, 90 Mile Beach, the sand dunes — without arranging your own transport or timing around the tides, which is what makes a full day of all three possible in one departure.
Bay of Islands: Small-Group Sailing & Island Hopping Day TourYou’ll sail through the Bay of Islands with a local skipper guiding your small group from island to island—sometimes steering yourself or just lounging on deck. Swim, kayak into hidden corners, share stories over lunch, and listen to local history as you drift back toward Russell in late afternoon light.
Bay of Islands Cruise & Snorkel: Hole in the Rock & Twin LagoonsA 4.5-hour cruise through the Bay of Islands from Paihia that stops at Roberton Island for a walk to the Twin Lagoons lookout, then heads out to the Hole in the Rock and Cape Brett Lighthouse before a second island stop for snorkelling and swimming. The boat carries smaller groups, a live English-speaking guide provides commentary on history, ecology and Maori culture throughout, and snorkelling gear is included. Weather can affect whether the boat actually sails through the Hole in the Rock; if conditions are unsuitable, the route stays within the shelter of the inner islands instead.Is it for me?Choose the Paihia departure if you're staying on the north side of the Bay; the Russell departure works better if you're based across the water. Either way, smaller groups mean the guide's commentary stays personal and you're not competing for space at the lookout or in the water.
Phantom Sailing Bay of Islands: Small group yacht tour with lunchPhantom is a small-group sailing tour of the Bay of Islands aboard a live-aboard yacht with a maximum of 10 guests, led by Rick and Robin, who have spent two decades sailing these waters and raising their family on the boat. The tour includes a guided sail through the bay, a one-hour island stop for hiking or swimming, snorkeling equipment, and a homemade lunch prepared on board; no sailing experience is required, and the hosts offer optional instruction on how the yacht handles.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a sailing experience led by people who have lived on boats for two decades and still love meeting travelers—the small group size and the hosts' knowledge of the bay make it personal rather than a standard tour. Private departures are available on request if you want the yacht to yourself.
Bay of Islands: V8 Trike Ride to Opua, Haruru Falls & LookoutYou’ll buckle into a V8 trike in Paihia and ride out with your local guide through Opua marina village, past Haruru Falls’ misty spray, and up to Waitangi Lookout for those wide-open Bay of Islands views. Expect salty air, friendly locals waving you by, and a bit of an adrenaline rush that lingers longer than you’d think.
Hole in the Rock Cruise & Bay of Islands Tour: 144 IslandsA 3-hour scenic boat cruise from Paihia through the Bay of Islands, visiting the Hole in the Rock geological formation at Cape Brett and stopping on Roberton Island for a short walk to panoramic viewpoints. The tour includes live guide commentary, wildlife spotting, and cruising among 144 subtropical islands in a group of no more than 49 passengers. The Hole in the Rock section is weather dependent; if conditions don't allow, the boat takes an alternative route through the sheltered inner islands instead.Is it for me?Most Bay of Islands tours either stick to the sheltered inner islands or demand a full day and a car. This one reaches the Hole in the Rock and a remote island in three hours from the Paihia wharf, so you get both the open-water geology and the island walk without the time commitment or the logistics.
Cape Reinga Half-Day Tour: Scenic Flight & Driving TourA half-day tour of Cape Reinga on New Zealand's North Island combining a scenic flight over Ninety Mile Beach with a 2.5-hour guided driving tour; hotel pickup from Paihia hotels is included. The flight lands at an airstrip near the lighthouse, and the driving portion stops at Tapotupotu Bay for refreshments. All departures depend on weather, and winter landings at Cape Reinga may be replaced with an extended scenic flight if conditions prevent it.Is it for me?Book this for a first morning or a free afternoon when you want to see the tip of the North Island without spending a full day driving—the flight cuts the travel time and the landing near the lighthouse puts you at the two seas meeting without the long drive from the Bay of Islands.
Kawiti Glow Worm Cave Tour & Opua Forest Walk: Bay of IslandsA 4-hour guided tour of the Bay of Islands visiting Kawiti Glow Worm Caves, the Hundertwasser Toilets and Opua Forest, departing from Waitangi wharf on cruise ship days or Paihia I-site on other days. A Maori guide from the family who has owned the caves for over 400 years leads you through a 200-metre limestone cavern on a wooden boardwalk, then a 30-minute forest walk past kauri trees over 1,000 years old. Cave entry is included, and the operator guarantees return to your tender in time.Is it for me?Most Bay of Islands tours either rush through the caves or skip the forest entirely. This one holds both—glow worms and ancient kauri trees in the same morning—because the 4-hour window and fixed schedule mean the guide can linger at each stop instead of watching the clock.
Māori Cultural Experience & Hāngī Dinner: Waitangi Treaty GroundsThis Māori cultural experience at Waitangi Treaty Grounds combines an evening of live entertainment, a guided bush walk with a traditional warrior challenge, and a buffet hāngī dinner cooked underground. Your combo pass grants two consecutive days of daytime access to the Treaty Grounds, two award-winning museums, a guided tour, and cultural performances. A complimentary drink on arrival and all activities are included; inform the operator of dietary needs and preferred daytime tour times when booking.Is it for me?The evening experience runs from 5pm onward, which leaves your daytime free to explore the Treaty Grounds, museums and heritage buildings at your own pace before the hāngī and performance begin. If you want both the daytime cultural immersion and the evening's earth-oven dinner and live performance in a single visit, book the daytime tour and performance when you reserve this experience.
Helicopter tours in Paihia: Land on Hole in the RockYou board a helicopter in Paihia and fly over the Bay of Islands' main islands, viewing the Hole in the Rock arch at Cape Brett, Russell, and the Waitangi Treaty grounds. The pilot provides commentary throughout. You have the option to land on top of the Hole in the Rock itself. The flight requires a minimum of two passengers and departs at a time you request when booking.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Bay of Islands' full geography and the Hole in the Rock from a perspective that ground-level tours can't offer — the helicopter does the traveling, so you only need to show up and look.
Bay of Islands: Parasailing Flight 1300ft & Scenic Boat RideYou’ll feel your heart race as you lift off for New Zealand’s highest parasailing flight over Bay of Islands — with wild views toward Russell and Hole in the Rock. Tandem or triple flights mean sharing those laughs (and nerves) with friends while a local guide keeps things lighthearted and safe. Includes all gear plus a scenic boat ride before you touch back down.
Bay of Islands: Tall Ship Sundowner Sail & Ferry TransferYou’ll feel that first rush of sea air as soon as you step onto the tall ship in Bay of Islands — maybe even try your hand at hauling ropes or steering if you’re game. There’s finger food passed around, laughter with locals and travelers alike, and a golden hour ferry ride back to Russell that feels like part of the adventure itself.
