A better anchorage than Korareka Bay without the constant wash from heavy traffic. A floating pontoon attached to the Russell Boating club on the west side of the bay is an ideal place to go ashore.

Open to the west. Good anchoring in the middle of the bay. Great snorkelling around the two small islets on the northern side. Kelp covered reefs that drop into deep guts. Dinghy passage between islet and island at half-tide.

A deep bay open to the north and north east. There is plenty of room in this bay, a sandy beach at its head and good snorkelling around Moturahurahu Island. Moderate holding and can be subject to a roll.

Especially good in fresh easterlies. Land on the sandy beach at the head of the bay for interesting walks. The southern headland is a great spot for strayline snapper fishing and for the diver scallops can be found out over the sand north of Shag Rock in 7-11 metres of water.

A large bay but offers shelter from most wind directions. It has large drying mud flats but a good place in a blow as there is a lot of room and good holding.

A pretty little bay with a sandy beach at its head. Sometimes subject to a roll between the islands to the north west. Not to be confused with a bay of the same name 2.5km to the east, which also offers a reasonable anchorage

A lovely bay to spend a day or two in, with a nice beach backed by native trees. An open anchorage that does not attract the crowd of other anchorages. There are scallops out in the bay.

A large bay with deep water and excellent holding in mud. A very popular anchorage for cruisers to weather a northerly blow. And when the weather turns you move across to Opunga Cove. Can be very crowded over summer.

Probably one of the most popular anchorages in an easterly quarter blow. There is a sandy beach at the head of the bay. The land is private with several small baches. Tui birds can make rowdy neighbours when they get drunk on the flowering kowhai trees in spring.

A very popular bay with walking tracks around the island. Nice sandy beaches. Good shelter from north to south east winds. Can be a bit rolly when swells come from the west.

A Department of Conservation island with walking tracks around the island. Nice sandy beaches at the bay\’s head with access to the walking tracks.

A beautiful protected bay that is dominated by a large private house above the beach. The island is privately owned.

A Department of Conservation Island with access to walking tracks right around the island. French explorer Marion Dufresne anchored off this bay in January 1772 and set up a hospital for his sick crew here. He and many of his crew were massacred in Assassination Cove later that month. Good anchoring in the middle of the bay in 2-3 m with moderate holding. Good protection from westerly winds. Occasional surge in northerly swell.

A Department of Conservation Island with access to walking tracks right around the island. French explorer Marion Dufresne anchored off this bay in January 1772 and set up a hospital for his sick crew here. He and many of his crew were massacred in Assassination Cove later that month.

A calm, protected and safe anchorage with good holding on mud. Generally used as an overnight spot before heading into or out of Russell, Opua or Paihia. If you get stuck here waiting for the weather to improve try running a flounder net in Oranga Bay.

Moturoa is a privately owned island and is not part of the Bay of Islands Maritime Park. A nice beach. Nearby Kent Channel often has schooling kahawai – look for the birds. For the diver there are scallops beds worth checking out.

If you wish to spend some time in Russell, this is a good anchorage and is without the constant wash from other boats. A floating pontoon attached to the Russell Boating Club on the west side of the bay is an ideal place to go ashore. From the club it is an easy 700 metre walk to Russell Village.

Russell Wharf is a busy commercial wharf, but is available for loading and offloading, water (poor quality) and fuel. The Village has a small supermarket, cafes, and restaurants. It is a delightful little village to pick up supplies and enjoy the cafes and restaurants. Have a drink at the oldest gamefishing club in the Southern Hemisphere, enjoy a drink and a meal at The Duke of Malborough which has operated on the same spot since 1827.

Almost a compulsory spot to visit. This lovely island is private at the eastern and western ends, but the middle is Department of Conservation owned and open to the public. The lagoon on the north sode of the isthmus has an underwater guided trail. A track go up to the historic pa site at the western end with stunning views of the islands and bay.

A Department of Conservation Island with access to walking tracks right around the island. It is a very popular sheltered and picturesque anchorage.

An excellent anchorage in deep water with a white sandy beach. Very picturesque with good walks along the beach and great views at the top of the hill. An ideal spot for a picnic, swimming, sunbathing and snorkelling.

There are 2 lovely bays on the south side of the passage between Waewaetorea and Urupukapuka Islands. The passage can be subject to surges coming through the passage from the north east. A Department of Conservation island with walking tracks around the island. Nice swimming and snorkelling at the north eastern entrance to the passage.

Well sheltered in all winds except from the south west. A deeper hole over 3 metres can be found on the noirth east side, otherwise the depth can be less than 1 metre. Bust with ferries in summer. A Department of Conservation island with walking tracks around the island. A shallow bay well sheltered in all winds except south west. There is a deeper 3m hole on the north-eastern side. Busy with ferries in the summer. A large wharf and licensed restaurant. Walking tracks start from here.

A Department of Conservation island with walking tracks around the island. Subject to a roll from swell coming through Albert Channel. Excellent walking tracks and stunning views. Plenty of scallops in the Albert Channel in about 6-12 metres of water.

The site of Reverend Samuel Marsden’s first sermon in New Zealand on Christmas Day 1814. Commemorated on the shore by the Marsden Cross. Walk up to the pa site for a great view of the bay. The Te Pahi Islands to the southwest can be interesting to snorkel and fish.