The Bay of Islands is one of NZ's biggest tourist attractions. The Bay is also of historical interest because the first European settlements in NZ were established here.

This archipelago of 150 islands is a beach bum's paradise. Beautiful aquamarine water, white sandy beaches and tons and tons of adventure and leisure activities puts these historic islands in the must-see category of the country.This was also the place where the Treaty of Waitangi was drawn up and signed between the Maoris and the Parekhas. It is still largely undeveloped and unspoiled, so is a fabulous retreat from the urban pell-mell, yet caters handsomely to its visitors. The main centre in the islands is Paihia, though Russell, Kerikeri and Waitangi are also interesting places to visit or stay over at.

Paihia is the main centre on the islands and adjoins Waitangi, the place where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. From here you can see the Treaty House in Waitangi, the largest war canoe in the world -the Maori canoe Ngatokimatawharorua.

Once you're through seeing this magnificent canoe and figuring out how to pronounce the name then you can move on to Kelly Tariton's Shipwreck Museum which is on an old sailing ship. It's a shipwrecking experience going through the museum and you shouldn't miss it. Go down to the Haruru Falls in the Waitangi National Reserve, where there are lots of pleasant walks especially in the Opua Forest.

Russell is just about 20 km away by ferry and is a small charming town reminiscent of an English town with its old buildings and understated atmosphere. You can visit the Flagstaff Hill (Maiki) where a Maori leader Hone Heke tore down the flagpole with an English flag, an action that started a war.

Christ Church and Clendon Cottage are two buildings worth seeing and Pompallier House is one of the oldest houses in NZ , now converted into a museum. For a nice walk and a swim head down to Long Beach which is just a km away.

Kerikeri is so beautiful that it was named twice! But it is beautiful and can serve as the base to go wandering around the other islands. Kerikeri means to dig and the area was NZ's first agricultural district. Kiwi fruits are amongst the other fruit and vegetable crops grown here and the place has a strong Maori presence, as do most of the islands in the Bay. You can visit the Rewa's Maori Village with its interesting exhibits of Maori culture. There are lots of art and craft shops in the village where you can see artisans and craftspersons work on the spot.

The Waimate North Mission House is the second oldest surviving house in NZ and was a former mission house. Walks and treks will take you on beautiful tracks, past scenes of pastoral beauty to pools and picnic spots.

Getting There: Flights come in to Kerikeri, and Watea from Auckland and many other islands nearby are linked by air to the other islands in the Bay of Islands. Buses go to Paihia daily and on to Russell, Keri Keri and other islands. There are ferries from Paihia to Russell and if you are driving a car, then passenger ferries will take you from one point to another. Alternatively you can take a water taxi to commute between islands. The Bay of Islands Visitor Information Centre in Paihia will give you all the information on the islands. It’s free and extremely helpful.

Accommodation: You can camp at most of the islands. Russell, Waitangi and Paihia have lots of guesthouses, lodges, motels, hostels and hotels to stay in. Paihia has more choice of places. Lots of restaurants especially those catering to travellers are dotted all over the place. Asian and European food is readily available.

There are so many things to do here that it’s impossible to list them all. The gist of it is that you can take fantastic cruises around the islands, which is the best way to travel. Swimming alongside the dolphins makes it the second most popular destination after Kaikoura in the South Island. Sea Kayaking, Scuba Diving, scenic flights, horse riding, sailing are the other fun things to do. Organised tours leave from Paihia, so contact the VI Centre in the town.