Full Circle Walk
It is possible to complete a full circle walk around the main visitor areas of the Bay of Islands.
How? By using a combination of the Paihia to Opua walkway, the Opua car ferry, the Okiato to Russell walkway and the Russell to Paihia ferry.
The Paihia to Opua Walkway is a well established track. It follows the beach passsing the helicopter pad, Beachcomber Hotel and crosses the road bridge at Te Haumi Stream before entering the bush covered coastal walk on the left immediately after the bridge.
The track is clearly marked and undulating. It passes the base of the Veronica Channel leading navigation light and affords excellent views over the channel looking towards the Russell peninsular and into the Waikare Inlet. The track finishes at Opua, where a general store sells food, drinks and essentials.
At Opua board the vehicular ferry to alight at Okiato on the Russell Peninsula.
On the Russell side, the Okiato to Russell walkway begins. The track has flat coastal stretches at the Okiato and Orongo Bay ends. In between it traverses mixed bush where there are hundreds of steps to be encountered requiring a reasonable level of fitness.
From Russell, catch one of the passenger ferries to get to Paihia.