Paihia
Paihia is a perfect, centrally located base to explore the marine environment of the Bay of Islands.
Paihia Wharf is the base for scenic cruises to the Hole in the Rock.
From here you can skydive, parasail, scuba dive, sea kayak or paddle a waka. Paihia Wharf is the base for scenic cruises like the ‘hole in the rock’ at the tip of Cape Brett, one of the most popular maritime excursions. Other trips and overnight cruises let you swim with dolphins or walk on uninhabited islands.
Take a relaxing walk along unspoilt beaches, swim in the shimmering, safe waters, take a guided tour through historical sites or go fishing. If adventure is what you seek, perhaps try skydiving, parasailing, scuba diving, kayaking or paddling a waka.
Paihia is the place of friendly locals, happy cafés and people enjoying life. Whether it is swimming with delightful dolphins, taking in a spot of retail therapy or just lazing under a tree, Paihia is the place for it.
Opua
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There are few places in the world that can match the coastal run from Auckland to Northland. It offers everything from secluded, pohutukawa-fringed bays to cosmopolitan marinas and anchorages with full chandlery, lively cafes and bars.
For those who arrive in the Bay of Islands by sea, Opua is your port. An attractive port settlement with a marina, marine service industries, yachts for charter, chandlery, cafe and a store. It's where the boats live - yachts, launches, ferries and runabouts of every description. On the wharf, a number of charter companies offer yachts you can sail yourself. A new 240 berth marina is now complete so with the friendly yacht club, the boat haul-out yards and extensive marine services, Opua is a delightful safe-haven for any sailor. It is also where you catch the car ferry if you want to drive to Russell.
Haruru Falls
Haruru Falls is 3km from Paihia.
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In the 1800s, more than 100 Maori villages lined the banks of the Haruru River which flows down to the sea at Waitangi. Maori legend says that a taniwha (water monster) lives in the lagoon below Haruru Falls.
Sightseers should visit Haruru Falls, Haruru means ‘big noise’: a good indication that these unusual, horseshoe-shaped falls are worth seeing. You can drive there but there’s an excellent walking track between the Falls and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, part of it a raised boardwalk over mangroves
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