From Russell, you can walk or drive up to Flagstaff Hill. If you walk, it takes around 20 to 30 minutes uphill from the town centre. If you drive, there is a small car park at the top. The view over the Bay of Islands is amazing, especially at sunrise or sunset.

This place is also important in New Zealand’s history because it has a strong link to the early days of the country. Russell was one of the first places where Europeans settled, and it became an important trading and whaling town. Before that, it was a Māori settlement called Kororāreka. Flagstaff Hill became a symbol of tension between Māori and the new European settlers in the 1840s. There are plenty of signs that explain the story in details, and I recommend you read them.