Guide · Northland
Bay of Islands — 140 islands, quietly.
Northland's subtropical archipelago is best seen from the water. Skip the day-boat crowds — a private charter or overnight sail is how the Bay reveals its quieter coves and empty beaches.
01
The islands
The Hole in the Rock at Motukokako gets the postcard, but the joy of the Bay is the coves you never planned to visit — anchoring off Urupukapuka for a swim, or beaching a tender on Roberton Island's twin lagoons before the day-tour boats arrive.
02
Russell & Waitangi
Russell — Aotearoa's first capital — is a fifteen-minute passenger ferry from Paihia and worth an unhurried afternoon. Waitangi Treaty Grounds, on the opposite shore, is the single most important historic site in the country. Book the twilight guided tour if you can.
03
The upgrade angle
A private overnight sail on a small yacht — captain, chef, and just your group — costs less than most people expect and turns the Bay into something closer to a private cruise than a day tour. We can hold the boats before they release to public booking.