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4 Days in the Bay of Islands

Itinéraire créé par

Hannah Whittaker

What you’ll do

The Bay of Islands is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful regions in New Zealand. Tucked away at the top of the North Island, it is made up of 144 islands, each with its own unique beauty and charm.

How to get to the Bay of Islands

If you’re flying into Auckland, my recommendation is (and always will be) to rent a car. New Zealand’s public transport system is shocking, so don’t expect to hop on a train like you would in London or Copenhagen.

The drive from Auckland to the Bay of Islands takes about 3 to 3.5 hours via State Highway One, and it’s a stunning road trip with plenty of gorgeous places to stop along the way.

If you don’t drive, you’ve got a couple of options:

InterCity Bus or Kiwi Experience: Both will take you straight from Auckland to Paihia, the busiest town, known as the Gateway to the Bay of Islands.
Flying: There’s a small airport in the Bay of Islands with domestic flights from Auckland, but the flights are ridiculously expensive, and you’ll miss out on jaw-dropping scenery like the Tutukaka Coast along the way.

How long should you spend here?

Honestly? As long as possible and even longer if you have a boat!

I could spend forever exploring cute towns, hopping between islands, and just soaking up the sun. It’s the perfect place to switch off and escape the real world.

If you’re short on time and heading up to Cape Reinga, you could squeeze in a day here, but you’ll barely scratch the surface and probably feel rushed.

I think 3-4 days is the sweet spot for a first visit. You’ll get to see the best of everything the Bay of Islands offers, leaving you wanting more.

In this itinerary, I’ll share the best time to visit the Bay of Islands, how to get there from Auckland, what you absolutely can’t miss, and a full itinerary to make the most of your time in this corner of Aotearoa.

Day Total

306,9 km (190,7 mi)

4 h 20 min

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Welcome to Day One of your Bay of Islands itinerary!

Today, you’ll be making the 3.5-hour journey from Auckland to Paihia, the Gateway to the Bay of Islands.

If you want to make the most of your time up north, I recommend getting on the road early. I usually aim to leave around 9 am!

If you don't already have one, make sure to rent a car or campervan for this trip. My recommendation is JUCY as I've used them before and they're reasonably cheap. But there are plenty of other companies on my "Travel Tips" page.

Road Trip Stops

If you’re not in a rush and want to stretch your legs along the way, here are some places worth stopping at:

Mangawhai Heads – A stunning beach with golden sand and great cafes.
Piroa Falls – A short, easy walk leads to this dreamy waterfall, perfect for a quick dip.
Tutukaka Coast – Hands down one of my favorite coastal drives, with hidden beaches and incredible coastal views.
Whangārei Falls - This stop is included on the itinerary!
Kawakawa - For the world-famous Hundertwasser Toilets (strange, I know. Trust me on this one!)

JUCY Car Rental and Campervan Hire Auckland Airport

Mid-range car/campervan rental

Catégorie

location de voiture

Est. Price

Direction

137 km (85,1 mi)

1 h 47 min

Choisissez l'option qui vous convient le mieux

Piroa Falls Track

Easy-to-reach waterfall near Waipu

Catégorie

cascade

Direction

Mangawhai Heads

Popular beach town in Northland

Catégorie

plage

Direction

50,6 km (31,4 mi)

44 min

The first "mandatory" stop on your road trip is to Whangārei Falls. Whangārei is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the largest settlement of the Northland Region.

Note: If you ever get the chance, I would recommend driving out to Whangārei Heads and hiking the Te Whara track (but you won’t have time for that on this itinerary, unfortunately).

Whangārei

Northland's only city

Catégorie

zone

Direction

From Whangārei, continue driving north for 45 minutes until you reach the small town of Kawakawa.

Although the town looks unassuming, it's home to the world-famous Hundertwasser Public Toilets. Designed by the Austrian architect and visual artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

The toilets are covered in colourful mosaics and are one of the very few Hundertwasser art installations outside of Europe.

90,6 km (56,3 mi)

1 h 15 min

I know I said we were driving to Paihia, and that is where you're staying tonight. But, we're first stopping in Kerikeri to visit my favourite waterfall in Northland.

Rainbow Falls is picture-perfect and incredibly easy to get to. The walk only takes about 5 minutes.

Rainbow Falls (Waianiwaniwa)

My favourite waterfall in Northland

Catégorie

cascade

Direction

5,1 km (3,1 mi)

7 min

I have a soft spot for Kerikeri. Not only does it have an incredible waterfall. But you'll also find shops galore and a huge range of cafes and restaurants.

After visiting Rainbow Falls, it’ll probably be way past lunchtime, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be ready for a bite to eat.

The best place to get lunch in Kerikeri is the Kerikeri Bakehouse. They sell an enormous range of baked goods, pies, sweet treats, filled rolls and even sit down meals.

Note: New Zealand has one of the best bakery cultures in the world. If you haven’t already visited a classic Kiwi bakery on your travels, you’re seriously missing out-beeline for one immediately.

Kerikeri Bakehouse

Our favourite bakery in Aotearoa

Catégorie

boulangerie

Est. Price

Direction

1,7 km (1,1 mi)

2 min

Before you leave Kerikeri and drive to Paihia, drop into Makana Chocolate Factory. You'll get to see their range of chocolates made on-site. Make sure to try their Macadamia Butter Toffee Crunch - you can thank me later!

Makana Confections (Kerikeri)

Handmade chocolates in the Bay of Islands

Catégorie

café

Est. Price

$$$

Direction

21,4 km (13,3 mi)

20 min

Once you arrive in Paihia, check into your accommodation. Then, decide whether to continue exploring or rest and relax, ready for a big day tomorrow.

There's lots to do in Paihia. If you want to continue exploring, I recommend wandering around the town centre and taking a walk down the waterfront.

When dinner rolls around, I highly recommend booking a table at Charlotte’s Kitchen, especially if you’re visiting during the summer months. They're a favourite among tourists and locals, so if they happen to be fully booked, don’t stress—Paihia has loads of other epic dining options, like GREENS Paihia (delish Thai food).