Relaxing Lunch Cruise to Historic Russell

Enjoy lunch on a leisurely cruise through the beautiful calm waters of Bay of Islands, passing a vineyard, an oyster farm and several historical sites before reaching the port of Russell. Your cruise begins in Waitangi, where in 1840 New Zealand's founding document between the British Crown and the Maori chieftains was signed. It's a fitting point of departure as many of the sites you'll pass in the Bay of Islands have influenced the country's history.

Okiato, also known as Old Russell, was New Zealand's seat of government before it moved to Auckland and then Wellington. Omata, once a favored destination for European immigrants, has now established itself as one of New Zealand's premier wine-growing regions. In the early 19th-century, Kororareka was the largest whaling port in the southern hemisphere and notoriously inhabited by hard-living seamen, deserters and escaped convicts.

As you cruise the coastline, enjoying a traditional New Zealand lunch, you'll learn much about the area's history and how the Bay of Islands has evolved into one of the country's most attractive destinations. Arriving in Russell, you have the option of disembarking the boat to explore on your own, or cruising directly back to the pier in Waitangi. Those who opt to remain in Russell will discover a historical town filled with carefully restored buildings from the mid-19th century. A ferry ticket back to Paihia will be provided for your return to the ship.