144 islands, one bay
The Bay of Islands takes its name literally — around 144 islands scattered across a sheltered stretch of coastline in New Zealand's far north, the country's warmest region and its closest equivalent to a subtropical holiday coast. Sailing, kayaking and boat trips between the islands are the region's main draw, alongside game fishing, a tradition here going back to early 20th-century anglers.
Waitangi and the country's founding document
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds, on the shore of the Bay of Islands, are where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed on 6 February 1840 between the British Crown and Māori chiefs — the document now treated as New Zealand's founding constitutional agreement. Waitangi Day, held every 6 February, is a national public holiday, and the grounds themselves include a meeting house, a ceremonial waka (war canoe), and the historic Treaty House.
Russell: the first capital
Across the bay from Waitangi, the small town of Russell was New Zealand's first European settlement of any size and briefly its first seat of government before the capital moved south. Its waterfront still carries a distinctly colonial-era character, in contrast to the region's Māori historical sites.
A slower kind of North Island stop
Compared to Auckland's pace or Rotorua's geothermal sightseeing, the Bay of Islands rewards simply slowing down — a boat trip, a beach, and no fixed itinerary. It's commonly paired with a Northland road trip further up the coast for visitors with extra time.