Paihia
Overview
Paihia is the gateway to New Zealand’s Northland, known as the “Winterless North” because of its year-round mild climate and high percentage of sunny days. On this northernmost part of the North Island, you will find many famous attractions such as 90 Mile Beach, forests of ancient Kauri trees, sandboarding on sand dunes and Cape Reinga, the entrance to the Maori netherworld. Paihia is a base for day trips to these further reaches of New Zealand, although many travelers find themselves so enamored of the small coastal town that they decide to stay.
Located in the Bay of Islands, Paihia is set on a calm and beautiful blue bay dotted with over 150 fuzzy green islands, and was the first place in New Zealand to be settled by Europeans. Gorgeous and peaceful during the day, the little town comes alive at night as locals and young travelers from all over the world get together to drink and dance. If partying isn’t quite your bag, consider accommodation in nearby Russell, a quiet and quaint cousin town just a short ferry ride away with a church that was built with funds from Charles Darwin.
Paihia is one of the most important places in New Zealand history and a beloved vacation spot for Kiwis and tourists alike. Whether you stay in the Bay of Islands for six months or use Paihia as a leaping pad for adventures further north, Paihia will stick in your head as one of the most beautiful beach spots of a country with no shortage of spectacular scenery.
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Paihia
Destination Reviews
Things to do in
Paihia
If a water sport exists in this universe, you can do it in Paihia: sea kayaking to hidden coves, surfing easy waves, swimming with dolphins, water skiing to a picnic spot, jet skiing, sailing, fishing, SCUBA diving and good old sunbathing on one of eight zillion beaches. Don’t forget jetboating; another sport invented by New Zealanders (like bungy jumping), jetboats have a low draft, which enables them to go very very fast in shallow water. One of the biggest attractions of Paihia is the ‘Hole in the Rock,’ a watery passageway through a giant rock in the middle of flopping seals, dark caves, and ocean water that is practically boiling due to all the hungry piranhas. The Bay of Islands is also home to many types of wildlife; keep a lookout for the many strange birds and fish that call this part of the world home.
Back on land there are plenty of diversions as well. Take an easy hike through mangrove swamps to peaceful Haruru Falls for an afternoon picnic. Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and impeccably carved wooden Treaty House, the location where Maori chiefs and British worked out a deal in 1840 that created the country of New Zealand as we know it. You can take in a cultural performance, shop for native-made crafts and admire the Maori ceremonial war canoe, which is one of the biggest in the world.
Nightlife pops in Paihia and as the sun sets over a thousand soft sand beaches in the Bay, you will have your pick of spots to claim whether you want a delicious seafood dinner or a couple of pints with the mates. Accommodation options abound from budget backpacker hostels and charming hotels to deluxe bed and breakfasts and resorts.
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Paihia
Activity Reviews
Hotels in
Paihia
Cook’s Lookout Motel: quiet hotel with amazing views of the Bay of Islands
YHA Paihia: Basic hotel with all facilities and many types of rooms
Bayview Motel: waterfront suites with private decks, good for families or couples
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Paihia
Hotel Reviews
Paihia
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Paihia
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