Duke of Marlborough Russell
RUSSELL
Russell 5 highlights:
- Bullet holes in the local church from the 1845 Battle of Kororāreka
- Placid beautiful foreshore, once the hellhole of the Pacific
- Heritage sites from Pompallier House & Duke of Marlborough hotel
- Picturesque bays and inlets
- Russell is easily explored on foot.
TIP
Parking is a premium and it is recommended that visitors catch the ferry at Paihia (wharf entrance is directly opposite the Duke of Marlborough Hotel).
TIP
In the peak summer season it could be difficult to park a motorhome in Russell as there is no dedicated car park rather roadside parking whereby the long length of a motorhome makes parking problematic. Leave your transport at your STAY unless absolutely necessary to have wheels. Motorhome drivers will have issues parking as Russell is equally stringent on traffic parking as Paihia.
RUSSELL – DUKE OF MARLBOUGH HOTEL
Duke of Marlborough hotel nestled in the heart of Russell, situated on the beach front with grandstand views of the main street, the bustle and activity of a tourist town. The Duke of Marlborough Hotel in Russell, as the hotel states the premises have been Refreshing Rascals and Reprobates since 1827. For history lovers this is a special treat to be accommodated in a hotel that has experienced New Zealand history. A highlight is afternoon tea, forward bookings are strongly encouraged to avoid disappointment.
@theduke
@theduke
There are a number of seats on the waterfront and people watching is part and parcel of the Russell experience. Perhaps you would like to take a half day Russell based cruise of the islands and bays of Northland. Simply walk to the end of the wharf to book a cruise.
TIP
Do not book in advance as you might decide having a coffee and relaxing on the garden seats dotting the foreshore is a great way to pass an afternoon. There is always another cruise departing later.
RUSSELL – SHOPS
Russell has an urban vibe with its mainstreet of cafes, restaurants and accommodation providers. The picturesque main street fronts the beach and the nineteenth century building facades easily transport you back to the early days of European whalers, and opportunists who frequented the area creating the reputation as the ‘black hole of the Pacific’. The sailing ships would have been riding at anchor in the safe harbour.
Russell
@Pompallier
RUSSELL – POMPALLIER MISSION & PRINTERY
Pompallier Mission and Printery built in 1842, Heritage fans rejoice, Russell has heritage and history in spades. Pompallier Mission originally housed a printery where Church texts were translated from Latin to te reo Māori, then printed and bound. It is just one of several buildings, including a chapel and various outhouses, which once stood in this crowded enclave. Today the Printery stands as New Zealand’s oldest industrial building, as well as the oldest of rammed-earth construction, distinctly French in style and making use of local materials including sand, rock and timber. Pompallier Mission has a restaurant attached.
Open Wednesday – Sunday then daily from 6 July, 10am – 4pm. Guided tours at 11am and 2pm. French Coffee House. 10am – 3.30pm.
Admission fees apply for guided tours including printery and garden. Garden-only, accompanied school-age children are free. Access to the printery is by guided tour only to help preserve the building. Please understand that surcharges may apply at times of special events.
RUSSELL MUSEUM
The Russell Museum is not particularly innovative, rather it is the usual collection of exhibits with, at times dated, commentary. There is a scaled down version of Captain Cook’s Endeavour on display. There is an admission fee. It is open every day. There is a collection of displayed photographs that could interest fans of heritage black and white images of a bygone era.
Russell Museum sculpture park
WALKING TRACK ORONGA BAY TO RUSSELL
Full Circle Day Walk
Perhaps a brisk walk is in order. Markers provide information along the way and some seating is provided. There are a number of start and end points on the Russell section of this walkway, so you can do as much or little as you choose. The full circle day walk of the Bay of Islands follows coastal tracks with outstanding views and two ferry rides. The initial part of this walk circles Orongo Bay and then takes you through sub tropical rainforest. For details check Bay of Islands Walkways (stage four). Stage 4 – Orongo Bay to Russell – 1h 45mins (5 km).
Getting to Orongo Bay – Russell
Russell is approximately 5 – 10 minutes drive from Oronga Bay: 5.2 km or 1 hour walking.
RUSSELL – FLAGSTAFF HILL
Another brisk walk, Flagstaff Hill is the candidate for a brisk climb and views of Russell. For photo opportunities Christ Church, two streets from the foreshore is set in nineteenth century styled gardens. If you pop into the church look for musket ball holes left in Christ Church (Russell) from the 1845 Battle of Kororāreka. Russell has a number of tour boats offering half day excursions around the islands and coast of Northland.
Christ Church Russell
Mangonui
- An iconic fish n chip shop where legends have been made.
- An extraordinary museum dedicated to the story of whaling
- Beaches, walks & heritage locations with sweeping views from a historic pa (fortified village) archaelogical sites.
The Bay of Islands tour operators offer day excursions by sea or air to the hole in the rock on Piercy Island. Visitors will observe local wildlife, penguins, dolphins, whales and wheeling gannets and soak up the peaceful views of picturesque inlets and harbours. A passenger ferry service runs between Paihia and Russell, while a vehicle ferry provides a link between Opua and Russell.
Mangonui world famous in New Zealand fish n chips
Rawhiti Cave viewing platform @DOC / Neil Murray
RAWHITI HIGHLIGHTS
- Quiet shallow beaches and estuaries where beaches and locals welcome the occasional visitor
- Cape Brett tramping track
Rawhiti is a quiet haven fluttering the Flag of Independence from its Marae flagpole. Rāwhiti or Te Rāwhiti is a small beachfront town about 27km from Russell in the Bay of Islands of New Zealand. Most of the land in the area is owned by Māori. There are two marae — Kaingahoa and Te Rāwhiti. There are powered camp sites, bathroom and cooking facilities for Kaingahoa marae located in Rawhiti.
The marae offers a camping ground for visitors, The camp site is functional and well maintained. Pets are welcome however they must be on a lease at all times. For trampers a great spot for preparations for the Cape Brett. There are no shops or petrol stations in the vicinity. The nearest services are in Russell.
GETTING TO RAWHITI
The nearest domestic airport is Kerikeri with connections to Auckland and Christchurch. There is a daily intercity bus – Bus Auckland to Paihia & Bay of Islands – departing from Auckland with stops at Paihia, Kerikeri and Mangonui
There is no rail link.
Driving between Auckland and Bay of Islands is approx 4 hours, 245km
GETTING AROUND RAWHITI
The area is poorly serviced by public transport. Visitors will need to rely on private vehicles, bikes, or tour operators. There are regular regional shuttle services in the summer between Kerikeri and Paihia.
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