Coastal Walk: Russell - Paihia - Opua - Okiato - Russell

This is a great, full circle walk, around the main visitor areas of the Bay of Islands, using a combination of the passenger ferry from Russell to Paihia, the Paihia-Opua walkway, the car ferry from Opua to Okiato, and the Okiato-Russell walkway. The entire walk is roughly about 15 kilometers in total, taking you through native forests, mangroves and along beautiful bays with lots of magnificent views to enjoy. Count on a full day’s walk, requiring a reasonable to good level of fitness. Wear good walking shoes and bring water, sunscreen, hat, some snacks/picnic and - optional - your togs.

NOTICE: There are currently a few small detours between Opua and Paihia due to maintenance, a fallen tree and slips.

Paihia to Opua Walkway: 5.8 km - 2.5 to 3 hours one way

This is a well established track and officially part of the Te Araroa Trail.
The first part follows the beach in Paihia, across from Alfresco’s restaurant you continue on the beach - a short rocky stretch - to Sullivan’s beach and then to the Te Haumi Flats. (NOTE: if the tide is at its highest, the rocks are hard to cross and you might have to follow the road up the hill to Te Haumi). You cross the road bridge over the Te Haumi Stream, after which you enter the bush on your left. From here the track is undulating, offering gorgeous views of the Russell peninsula, the Veronica Channel and Opua, passing several little bays like English bay, Lemons Bay, all the way to Opua.

NOTICE: from December 2021 the walkway between Paihia and Opua is closed for maintenance (bridge crossing the mangrove flats needs to be replaced), about halfway through, just past the Top10 Holiday Park. From either point - Paihia or Opua - you can walk up until this point but will have to return the same way.

Okiato to Russell Walkway: 9km - 3 to 3.5 hours one way

From Opua you catch the car ferry as a foot passenger to make your way to Okiato. The Okiato to Russell Walkway is set up in 4 stages, traversing mature native bush and wetland flats before hitting the roadside for the last stretch to Russell.

Stage 1: Pipiroa Bay to Aucks Road (1.3 km - 35 minutes)
This track commences about 400 meters from the ferry landing, up the hill of Aucks Road, taking a left turn on Pipiroa Road. If you like you can take a short detour from there to James Clendon Place, the site of NZ’s first capital.
From there on the track is well indicated, starting at Pipiroa Beach, with a boardwalk leading through the Raupo Swamp, following a stream and entering the native bush. Prepare for lots of steps leading you up and down, passing mature puriri, kahikatea and Nikau palms. Also watch for native kereru, tui and weka (early morning or evening), and some tall standing kauri trees.

Stage 2: Aucks Road to Te Wahapu Road (1.3 km - 35 minutes)
An undulating stretch of the track with steeper grades. The track starts across the driveway to Omata Estate Winery, crossing privately owned land with the 2 landowners kindly agreeing for the Track to cross their land. The bush is mainly rimu, tanekaha and ferns. The track descends steeply to a stream bed before climbing up again to Te Wahapu Road.

Stage 3: Te Wahapu Road to Orongo Bay (1.3 km - 35 minutes)
You re-enter the track after crossing Te Wahapu Road, descending very steeply through pine and native bush. A view of the bay reveals some oyster farm activity, then descending further to a boardwalk traversing a salt marsh, following the mangroves and eventually arriving at the Aucks Road car park.

Stage 4: Orongo Bay to Russell (5 km - 1h 45minutes)
Following the main road for a few meters - across you will see the Gas station (public toilets, cold drinks available) - you then enter the Hirst Reserve on your left with a grass track leading you to the mangrove boardwalk across Orongo bay. At the end of the boardwalk you arrive at the oyster farm. From there on you continue along Russell Whakapara Road for the last kilometers to Russell. A short sidetrack starting at Uretiti Road on your right will lead you to another boardwalk across raupo swamp, then entering a Manuka grove and returning to Whakapara Road.

Our Tips

Dogs:

• The full coastal walk is dog friendly!

• Between Paihia and Opua, for the most part, you can have your dogs off lead but under control. Just be aware of the Te Haumi flats where dogs are only allowed on the sandy bit of the beach and the roadside grass to protect the seabed flats where people still traditionally gather seafood like pipi’s. The Top10 Holiday Park between Paihia and Opua is on private land and asks you to keep your dog on a lead.

• The area between Okiato and Russell is an offical kiwi zone. Your dogs can still join you on your walk, but they need to be on a lead at all times.

Flagstaff Hill Walk

Call in for precise directions and the Heritage Trail Booklet, but it’s fairly simple, just look for the highest point in Russell. The Flagstaff Hill Loop Track takes you through regenerating kanuka/manuka scrub down into the Waipara/Watering Bay stream and wetland then back up to one of New Zealand’s most iconic historic sites – Te Maiki/Flagstaff Hill. On this walk you may very well come across the endangered North Island weka, which has been successfully reintroduced to the Russell Peninsula by the Russell Landcare Trust.

Urupukapuka Island Walk

This is possibly the coolest thing to do whilst here in the Bay of Islands. Urupukapuka has had a major ecological overhaul, with many thousands of trees planted over the last ten years. There is a superb cafe on the Islands, and you can easily spend all day out there. We personally recommend this trip as a must do in the Bay. Call us for ferry times and detailed knowledge of the Island.

Return ferry $60 (walks are free)

Moturua Island Walk

Moturua Island Scenic Reserve is situated in the central Bay of Islands. The four main bays, Otupoho, Waipao, Mangahawea and Waiwhapuku all offer safe anchorage for visitors. This stunning island has four lovely beaches and an easy walking track around the island. You can access the archaeological sites from the track. This track is best accessed by water taxi, which we at the Russell Information Centre can arrange for you.

Bay of Islands Walking Weekend

The Bay of Islands Walking Weekend has been running for many years and is fast becoming a major attraction in the Bay, due of course to the talented and helpful guides doing an excellent job of entertaining you on the walks. It is your chance to see the Bay with local guides who run a very well organised weekend. The walks are varied, from easy to hard and some even take you to the islands of Ipipiri. There are options for packed lunches, so all you have to do is give us a call at the Russell Info Centre and we can sort everything out for you. Some walks are free, most are between $40 – $60.

Bookings essential.