Distance:
201km
(126miles)
Once you’re ready, it’s time to head north to the Bay of Islands, a National Maritime Park. The scenic Bay of Islands is home to 144 islands and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the views with a 3 night stay.
Options available to you include learning more about the history of the region, with nearby Waitangi the location for the signing of the unique treaty between the British and the Maori people in 1840, which is still relevant today.
Alternatively, you might enjoy a boat trip out into the bay, or how about heading to the most northerly point of New Zealand and Cape Reinga, where the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea converge.
During your stay enjoy the included half day 'Hole in the Rock' Cruise. The Dolphin Seeker ship will allow you to take in the stunning views as you glide out through the islands and along the Rakaumangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over and Piercy Island/Motukōkako, or as it is popularly known the ‘Hole in the Rock’.
According to Māori legend, local warriors used to paddle through the Hole in the Rock in their canoes before departing for battle. Drops of water from the cave roof above were a good omen. If conditions permit, your skipper will expertly guide the ship through the narrow space... and if you get dripped on, consider yourself lucky.