Russell and the Bay of Islands

For our first day in the Bay of Islands we explored around Russell, an original Maori settlement that has now become a beautiful waterfront village with countless summer activities and attractions. Tours of historical colonial buildings, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars, and cafes, chartered fishing trips, sailing, cruises, kayaking, diving, scenic walks, and swimming are some of the many things locals and visitors enjoy doing here.
Russell and the surrounding Bay of Islands are also known for their enormous historical significance. As the site of NZ’s first permanent English settlement, it is the birthplace of European colonization. The bay is also where the Treaty of Waitangi was drawn up and first signed by 46 maori chiefs and representatives of Queen’s government in 1840. The treaty still remains the linchpin of positive race relations between the Maori and British peoples in NZ today.

We took a ferry ride across the bay to Paihia another small oceanfront tourist town and the site of the Waitangi National Reserve, where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed.
We walked the Waitangi Reserve visitor track that took us to the original treaty house, a traditional Maori meeting house or whare runanga, and a huge carved Maori war canoe. Check out the pictures below that I took from our walk.

To learn more about the Waitangi National Reserve: Click Here