OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN PAIHIA
You won't run out of adventurous activities when you are in New Zealand, especially when you're on a cruise in New Zealand's Bay of Islands. When you have already experienced what the sea has to offer, you still have land to explore. One of the activities you might want to experience is trekking or walking.
Paihia is the Bay of Islands' main tourist town. It is the best place to start your Bay of Islands adventure, with lots of accommodation and eating options. Paihia is close to a few historic towns and settlements such as Russell, Kerikeri, and Waitangi.
PAIHIA VIEWPOINT
Walking to Paihia View Point is easy. The trek is just 1.5 kilometres away from the town. You can start walking and be back in town in an hour or so. It is a pleasant and refreshing walk through the forest to the View Point. The View Point overlooks the bay — you can see as far as Opua to Waitangi, over the Russell peninsula to Urupukapuka Island and Cape Brett.
HARRISON'S BUSH SCENIC RESERVE
The walk will take you about an hour back and forth and is only around 1.4 kilometres. Though short, the walk will take you through some of the best native forests in the Bay of Islands. The walk's highlight is the abundance of old, large, native Puriri trees. These trees can grow to around 20 meters in height, with a stout trunk and wide-spreading canopy of green leaves. The tree is considered to be New Zealand's strongest wood.
PAIHIA TO OPUA COASTAL TRACK
The walkway from Paihia to Opua is a pretty and well-maintained coastal track. It is roughly 3 hours from end to end and just around 5.8 kilometres. The walk offers beautiful and scenic views of the bay.
PAIHIA TO WAITANGI
The walk from Paihia to Waitangi is just around 45 minutes to about an hour. You will walk along the coastline and will get to see an abundance of rocky headlands, clifftop views, and Paihia's abundant birdlife. It is best to do the walk early, on a sunny morning. Once in Waitangi, you have lots of choices — you can visit the historic Waitangi Treaty House, the wharenui (Māori meeting house) or waka (Māori war canoe).
WAITANGI TO HARURU FALLS
From Waitangi's Treaty Grounds, you can walk to Haruru Falls. The walk is around 6 kilometres and can take up to 2.5 hours going there. Though it might be far, the walk is sheltered and is suitable for families.
With all these scenic places to visit, do not hesitate to ask The Rock Bay of Islands Adventure Cruise to arrange a walking tour for you.