Russell - North Island, New Zealand

Russell takes pride in being Aotearoa's most historic village. It is a tranquil village easily accessible by sea and a popular getaway for citysiders, especially the romantically inclined, as Russell has a delightful waterfront and is laced with historic buildings.

Russell was previously known as Kororareka in the 1830s and formed the capital of New Zealand at that time. After the signing of Treaty of Waitangi, Governor Hobson moved the capital to Auckland and later Wellington. Russell has an amazing history.

After the signing of the Waitangi Treaty the British flag flew on Flagstaff Hill replacing the Confederation of Tribes flag. As the Maori started to question the promises of the Treaty, the flag came to be seen as a symbol of British betrayal.

The local chief, Hone Heke and his followers cut down the flagstaff four times in the 1840s and the fourth incident sparked off the First New Zealand War. This lasted a whole year and Kororareka was destroyed. A new settlement rose from the ashes under the new name Russell and has grown into the idyllic coastal village that it is today.

Russell Accommodation

There is very limited budget accommodation in Russell. Paihia is the main accommodation base for exploring Russell and is just a fifteen minute ferry ride away. There are several cruises operating from Paihia to Russell.

There is limited accommodation in Russell in the form of a handful of motels, hotels and backpacker lodges, as well as B&Bs (bed and breakfasts) and homestays, but if you are planning to visit Russell in the peak season between Christmas and February, Paihia would be your best bet for accommodation.

Access to Russell is by ferry or through the back roads. The Russell Information Centre is at the end of the wharf where bookings can be made for local sightseeing, activities and accommodation.

The Bay of Islands Visitor Centre is run by DOC (the Department of Conservation) and is on The Strand. It provides great information through the Russell Heritage Trail leaflet and the Bay of Islands Walks leaflet. For those visitors short of time there is a Russell Mini Tour leaving the Strand regularly on a short tour of local sights.

Russell Activities

The main sights in Russell are the many historic buildings and Flagstaff Hill. At the southern end of the village, Pompallier is the last surviving building of the Catholic Mission.

Built in 1842, it served as a printing press for the French bishop Jean Pompallier and was built by the missionaries in a style that reflected Pompallier's native Lyon in France. Some of the first books in Maori were printed here, and on the tour today you can see books handmade and the production process explained along the way.

Christ Church is New Zealand's oldest surviving church built in 1836. Charles Darwin was believed to have contributed to the building of this church when he passed through the Bay of Islands.

The Russell Museum on York St has interesting exhibits depicting the history of the place and further down the Strand you can see the famous Bay of Islands Swordfish Club built in 1924 and the Duke of Marlborough Hotel.

At the end of the Strand, a short track ascends steeply up to Flagstaff Hill. The current flagpole was erected in 1857 after it was destroyed a fourth time by Hone Heke.

The Confederation of Tribes flag is flown on 12 significant days of the year. About one km from Flagstaff Hill, the impressive Tapeka Point Historic Reserve at the end of the peninsula offers fantastic views of the area. Oneroa Bay, about one km east of Russell, is a well-sheltered beach ideal for swimming.

Russell has very limited eating options in a few restaurants but can be expensive. The best drinking spots are in private clubs like the RSA and the Swordfish Club.

LooknbookNZ can organise your Russell accommodation and Russell activities bookings and let you and your family/friends have a wonderful time exploring the beautiful waterfront and being transported into another era by the historic delights of Russell.