Top Reasons to Go to Northland and the Bay of Islands

Boating and Fishing: Take a cruise to an island, whale-watch, swim with dolphins, or fish with the Bay of Islands as the hub.

Bountiful Beaches: Most Northland beaches are safe for swimming. On the 90 Mile Beach you can swim in both the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Experienced surfers head to Shipwreck Bay for great waves.

Coastal Views: Take the Old Coast Road to Russell for superb views of islands and (almost) hidden bays and places to picnic.

Superb Diving: Dive at the Poor Knights Islands, known for their huge variety of subtropical fish, or the wreck of the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior, sunk by French agents in 1985.

Walking and Hiking: Superb bushwalking (hiking) provides a close look at ancient kauri trees (a local species of pine) and interesting birds, such as tūī (too-ee), fantails, wood pigeons.