Paihia Harbour
Paihia Harbour
4.5
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4.5
1,228 reviews
Excellent
661
Very good
475
Average
81
Poor
8
Terrible
3
Anse P
2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
We loved it! Stayed at Busby Manor. Highly recommended. Visited Russell via the car ferry, had the most delicious lunch at The Duke of Edinburgh and visit the printing museum as well as the Russell Museum . So informative. KeriKeri market on the Saturday is a must as well as the Parrot Place. Hururu Falls a short walk and beautiful. Lovely walks on the beach every day . Sadly we missed the hole in the wall boat trip but it remains on our bucket list. Worth it!
Written 22 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
🌈🌈❤️happyopenmindedtraveler❤️🌈🌈
The Netherlands444,684 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
I am now sitting outside the public library in Paihia (less than four hours altogether, with the Grayline coach tour which i joined early this morning). It is apparently one of the few places in this quite lovely town with free internet but it is only to be used on the two benches outside the library. I just spent about 15 minutes chitchatting to a young man from the UK, about his travel experiences in NZ so far. He was also sitting outside the library, using the free internet, just like myself. He is spending one year in New Zealand (first only travelling and then working for a while). Lovely town with friendly people.
Written 13 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GaryandLesleyTravel
Auckland Central, New Zealand7,853 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
On a beautiful day this harbour rivals any in the world. Sparkling water, over water restaurants, boat trips the wharf and sunshine what more could you want. Russel just a quick ferry trip away as is the Duke of Marlborough for lunch or dinner. Gate way to the islands Paihia is a great spot to spend a few days.
Written 27 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crayeater
Hamilton, New Zealand130 contributions
Nov 2020
After spending the day in Cape Reinga it was only a brief stay in Paihia for me but still a great way to spend an evening. Paihia is pretty and easy to walk around and, no matter how brief your stay is, catch the passenger ferry across to Russell. In the evening you just buy your ticket from the crew as you jump on the boat, the picturesque trip takes 15min and is a bargain at $15 return. The crew were friendly and Russell is worth a walk around even if you don't have a dinner booking at one of the busier restaurants. Last boat headed back at 10pm the evening I was there.
Written 1 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jan M
Sydney, Australia849 contributions
Feb 2020
It is just that.... A very pleasant ferry driver and about a 15 minute trip across the harbour for about $14 return.
Well worth the trip........nice views
Have a wander around Russell..........great photo opportunities and some quaint little shops.
Well worth the trip........nice views
Have a wander around Russell..........great photo opportunities and some quaint little shops.
Written 3 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
max_1966
Tauranga, New Zealand66 contributions
Nov 2022
Terrible service. The ferry at 8.30am this morning was cancelled without any warning or explanation. Almost missed my flight from Kerikeri airport because of the unreliability of this company. Luckily the other ferry was running , but their next ride was at 9am, therefore I barely made it to the airport. I strongly recommend not to trust "The Happy Ferry" - they are a sad bunch actually.
Written 19 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny Y
Brisbane Q447 contributions
Feb 2020
We spent 2 weeks in Paihia recently and the weather was idyllic.We took boat trips out amongst the islands and swam with the dolphins. Plenty of wonderful restaurants around the harbour area also. We would ho
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike W
Brampton, Canada16 contributions
Mar 2020
We explored the many shops and enjoyed some of the restaurants in this harbour town. As we were only here three days, we could not visit them all. We were able to take the walk-on ferry over to Russell and explore its fine shops and restaurants one afternoon. Paihia has a lovely beach but can be inundated with cruise ship passengers mid-afternoon so we planned our activities in town for late afternoon. For example, we booked an excellent experience with the Rogue Pony Tours for the morning. We stayed at the Paihia Pacific Resort Hotel so the harbour was easy walking distance for us.
Written 3 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mytravadv
Brisbane, Australia445 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
The bay view is really the only plus for this place. It's just for tourists to catch the boats to Russell and Bay of Island Cruises.
There is a nice restaurant to the north of the pier that has good coffee and nice views though.
Plenty of shops to get souvenirs and provisions.
There is a nice restaurant to the north of the pier that has good coffee and nice views though.
Plenty of shops to get souvenirs and provisions.
Written 4 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jotum
Knoxville, TN1,503 contributions
Feb 2020
This is a small town. Our cruise ship anchored out and we came into the harbor and pier by tender. The facilities seemed new and clean. There were a number of shops around and usually when cruise ships are in they have a farmer’s market across the street which was well represented with lots of crafts. You can also arrange tours here if you did not do it in advance.
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi- how do I get from Auckland to Roturua stay a night in Roturua and then head on to Paihia stay a night there and then head back to Auckland on April 3 evening.
Written 8 March 2017
Hi, it's best driving, renting a car & from Auckland to rotorua is 2:40 mins by car or close to 8 hrs via a bus which will be a whole day wasted if travel by bus. If your staying one day you not gonna see much, we stayed 3 nights in rotorua & required more & were happy what we did. The same applies when going to Piahia Bay of Islands, from rotorua it's 5 1/2 hr drive, so many windy roads, plenty of things to do, good luck & enjoy ur holiday in April.
Written 13 March 2017
there are several hole in the rock cruises
fas tjet if you do not mind the bumps
The hole in the rock cruise which is more sedate and you often encounter dolphins
The cream trip that goes around the islands and also in the hole in the rock
They are all great trips note if the weather is rough you will not go into the hole just beside it
Written 9 March 2017
Are the New Years Eve fireworks held at the harbor? Where are the best places to view them?
Written 4 April 2016
Sorry we were not there for New Years Eve - spent it in Auckland. Great fireworks there from the Sky Tower building!
Written 5 April 2016
Paints or Russell, which is best to stay?
Written 23 February 2016
I would suggest Russell, its a little quieter but either is great
Written 25 February 2016
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