Bay of Islands/Paihai Activities

[mkcruise]

We will be arriving on the Celebrity Solstice on 10th of February, 2019, and at this late date, we have nothing specifically planned or booked. It is a tender port, and we have priority, so we should be able to get off fairly quickly if necessary based on the 7 am arrival.

If we play it by ear, what are our options once we tender to port - are there various kiosks with tours and other activities? It looks like Fuller has several boat tours - do they have someone there as we get off the tender, or do we have go into central Paihai to find possible connections? Thanks for whatever suggestions you can provide ,

 

Mark

[dkata]

Here's what I wrote on a previous post asking about visiting Kawiti caves on your own from Paihai. It should give you details on how to find a tour once you arrive in Paihia:

 

Here's what we did to see the Kawiti Glow worm caves at bay of islands on our own.

You will take a tender from the ship to a dock outside of town near the Waitanga Treaty Grounds.

Our cruise line, Princess had a free shuttle to downtown Paihia. I'm sure other cruise lines do the same thing, but check with them.

There are no vendors at the tender drop off site- only a free shuttle bus to downtown Paihia

 

In the parking lot near the Bay of Islands I-Site visitor center in Paihia, there will be tour vendors advertising trips around the area.

If you are reluctant to go from vendor to vendor in the parking lot, go inside the Visitor Center and they'll give you the info on which vendor goes to where you want to go and even book it from the office. (which was 50 feet away from the outdoor vendor tables) (On our tour, half of the people had booked from inside the Visitor's Center and the other half, like us, just walked up to her table in the parking lot and asked about the tour.

OR if you like having a something planned in advance before getting off the ship, Go online and

Check out Shore Trips and Tours. They are a reputable New Zealand Tour company. Lots of cruise people take tours with them. They have group tours that include the Kawiti Caves.

hope this information helps.

[cruise kitty]

On 1/15/2019 at 5:23 PM, mkcruise said:

We will be arriving on the Celebrity Solstice on 10th of February, 2019, and at this late date, we have nothing specifically planned or booked. It is a tender port, and we have priority, so we should be able to get off fairly quickly if necessary based on the 7 am arrival.

If we play it by ear, what are our options once we tender to port - are there various kiosks with tours and other activities? It looks like Fuller has several boat tours - do they have someone there as we get off the tender, or do we have go into central Paihai to find possible connections? Thanks for whatever suggestions you can provide ,

 

Mark

 

Hi,  the town itself provides a shuttle bus (free)  with local volunteers on board giving you tips on what to do/see.   The treaty grounds & museum are right there & an easy diy experience with no reservations needed.   We personally did a sightseeing boat that we pre booked (saw lots of dolphins, hole in the rock)  It was pretty rough & stormy the day we were there, so no canoes, etc.  The boat gave us an option of being dropped off back in town or to visit Waiheke, one too the near by islands... this was a great experience, lots of beautiful streets to walk, historic church & cemetery, & nice little hiking trails for a view. Afterwards, it finally cleared up & we headed back to Paihai to the little open air market (with guaranteed local made souvenirs (we bought some lovely jade earrings for our daughters)   then we had lunch outdoors looking over the bay....took the free(!) shuttle bus back, walked the outer portion of treaty grounds, & headed back to the tender.     This was one of my all time favorite ports... in fact all the ports in New Zealand were wonderful & almost all included free shuttles into town (except Dunedin)  

 

There's a detailed photo review in my signature if you care to look.  

 

Cheers

 

there's also a free app that's called 100% new zealand that was very helpful, it's New Zealand official app

Edited January 18, 2019 by cruise kitty

[mkcruise]

Thanks dkata and cruise kitty - definitely the information I was looking for - this is our one port to "play by ear", and it sounds like that is very doable. Now all we have to worry about is some decent weather!

[Kiwi Kruzer]

A very pleasant and easy day can also be done on your own. When you land from the tender at Waitangi  check out the Treaty Grounds and book a time for the guided tour,...then before/after take the shuttle along the Bay to Paihia. Wander around the shops and local market ,then take the ferry over to Russell, Its only a 12 minute trip . On return to Paihia either the shuttle or a leisurely stroll back to the tender dock at Waitangi.

[cruise kitty]

6 hours ago, mkcruise said:

Thanks dkata and cruise kitty - definitely the information I was looking for - this is our one port to "play by ear", and it sounds like that is very doable. Now all we have to worry about is some decent weather!

 

The island/town that we visited was Russell, not Waiheke (that's where we went in Auckland)  so sorry for giving you the wrong name.   Definitely a very easy diy day, & the great thing about New Zealand was that you could start a day cool/windy/raining & then having blazing sunshine an hour later.  :)

[Swissmiss6253]

We did the cream cruise, 9:30 - 4:30 so depends on your timing.  Excellent day.  The treaty grounds are gorgeous and such an interesting experience, well worth doing if you don't do a full day boat trip.