The Bay of Islands’ Free (and Cheap) Activities
The Bay of Islands doesn’t have to be all about cruises, skydives, scuba diving, kayaking and the likes. There’s plenty of cheap and even free things to do in the Bay of Islands to complete your itinerary and stick to your budget. We go over some of the budget-friendly highlights of Paihia, Kerikeri, Kawakawa, Russell and more in this list of free and cheap things to do in the Bay of Islands.
For more budget travel advice, check out The Guide to the Bay of Islands on a Budget.
1. See the Majestic Rainbow Falls – FREE
A great way to save money in the Bay of Islands is by visiting its free natural attractions. A must-see is Rainbow Falls just outside of Kerikeri! A short walk from the Rainbow Falls Road car park brings you to several viewpoints of the waterfall, where the walking trail continues along the Kerikeri River all the way to the Stone Store (1h30mins one way).
Location: Rainbow Falls Road, just 4.5km (3 miles) from Kerikeri town centre.
© Unsplash2. Walk to Haruru Falls – FREE
For those based in Paihia, an excellent waterfall alternative is Haruru Falls. While Haruru Falls is easy to access just off Haruru Falls Road, we recommend taking the Waitangi-to-Haruru Falls Track along the Waitangi River. The winding mangrove boardwalk and bush trail take around 2h30mins to complete one way.
Location: Haruru Falls Road, approximately 5km (3 miles) from Paihia town centre. Alternatively, the Waitangi River Walk starts opposite the road from the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi, approximately 3km (2 miles) from Paihia town centre.
© Adventure HQ - Tourism New Zealand3. Visit the Stone Store Museum and Take a Tour of Kemp House – CHEAP
The Bay of Islands might be steeped in history, but some of its most popular historical attractions aren’t exactly cheap. An affordable alternative, however, is the Stone Store and Kemp House in Kerikeri. Visit one of New Zealand’s earliest stores, the Stone Store, which is free to browse downstairs. Alternatively, it’s only around NZ$15 to take a look around the museum upstairs, which also includes a guided tour of the oldest surviving house in New Zealand, the Kemp House.
Location: Landing Road, Kerikeri.
© NZPocketGuide.com4. Take the Ferry to Russell – CHEAP
Experience a bit of history, scenery, food or whatever you decide to do in the town of Russell. The historic town is easily accessed via ferry (around NZ$13 return) from Paihia Wharf. Once there, take a look around Pompallier Mission, either around NZ$7 to access the gardens or NZ$15 for a guided tour of the old printery, tannery and storehouse for the French Marist mission. You can also admire Christ Church, New Zealand’s oldest surviving church, hike up Flagstaff Hill for the views, or indulge at the historic pubs or dessert places around town.
Location: Passenger ferries are available from Paihia Wharf. Vehicle ferries are available from Opua, 6km (4 miles) south of Paihia.
© NZPocketGuide.com5. Go to the Beach – FREE
The beach is always a good place to spend some time in the Bay of Islands, whether it’s for a stroll or a swim. Some of the best beaches in the area include Oneroa Bay behind the town of Russell, Paihia Town Beach and Te Tii Bay at the northern end of Paihia town.
© Pxhere6. Watch the Chocolatiers at Work at a Chocolate Factory – FREE
In Kerikeri, pop into Makana Confections to watch the chocolatiers hard at work through the large windows of their chocolate factory and store. They also have a cafe next door should you want to treat yourself to some chocolatey goodness.
Location: 504 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri.
© NZPocketGuide.com7. See the Famous Toilets of Kawakawa – FREE
That’s right, New Zealand’s most famous public toilets can be found in the town centre of Kawakawa! The mosaic bathrooms were designed by a local artist, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who you can learn all about on the flyers displayed outside of the toilets while you wait for your other half to do their business. The toilets are not the only free attraction in the town, so be sure to check out the 7 Kick-Ass Things to Do in Kawakawa for more inspiration.
Location: Gillies Street, Kawakawa town centre.
© Northland Inc8. Admire the Giants of Puketi Forest – FREE
Be awed by some of the largest trees in New Zealand on the walking trails of the Puketi Forest. A popular option is the Manginangina Kauri Walk, a 15-minute boardwalk loop that showcases enormous kauri trees. Alternatively, the Puketi Nature Trail is a similar walk taking about an hour to complete. For something longer, try the Pirau Ridge Track, which is a 4-hour walk. These walks are suitable for kids, which we also recommend in the 10 Things to Do in the Bay of Islands with Kids.
Location: The Manginangina Kauri Walk is approximately 20km (12 miles) from Kerikeri via Pungaere Road. Yellow and green Department of Conservation (DoC) signs point out other walks in the Puketi Forest.
© NZPocketGuide.com9. Take in the Views from the Waitangi Golf Club – FREE
Either walk or drive up to the Waitangi Golf Club to get some amazing vistas of the Bay of Islands. There is a large parking area at a scenic viewpoint, which is a great place to take a picnic and admire the view.
Location: Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi, approximately 4km (2.5 miles) from Paihia town centre.
© Destination Northland - Tourism New Zealand10. Grab Some Cheap Eats – CHEAP
Fish and chips, bagels and ice cream: these are some of the staples of the Bay of Islands that you can enjoy on a budget. For instance, Hell Hole (19 York Street, Russell) has a creative mix of bagels, croissants and baguettes, while Letz Cafe (9 Williams Road, Paihia) serves up hearty bagels, burgers, sandwiches and a wide selection of gelato. Speaking of gelato, don’t miss a cold cone from Cellini’s Ice Cream & Espresso (Williams Road, Paihia) or Movenpick (Williams Road, Paihia). Finally, while nothing glamorous, Vinnies Takeaway (Marsden Road, Paihia) does popular fish and chips, as does Haruru Falls Takeaways (9 Yorke Road, Paihia). For more foodie stuff, head over to The Foodie Guide to the Bay of Islands.
© UnsplashMore About the Bay of Islands on a Budget
- 10 Best Budget Accommodation in Paihia
- 8 Best Backpacker Hostels in Paihia
- 10 Best Budget Accommodation in the Bay of Islands
- The Complete Travel Guide to the Bay of Islands
That’s it for our list of cheap and free things to do in the Bay of Islands. For more free stuff, check out the 50 Best Free Things to Do in New Zealand.
