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    Russell

    New Zealand

    Russell

    Historic VillageCulture

    Russell, in Māori Korōrāreka, was a wild port for whalers and merchant ships in the 1830s. Today, it is a tranquil spot with wooden houses, a waterfront promenade, and some of New Zealand's oldest buildings.

    by Felix Gillen

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    9. Russell
    Russell, in Māori Korōrāreka, was a wild port for whalers and merchant ships in the 1830s. Today, it is a tranquil spot with wooden houses, a waterfront promenade, and some of New Zealand's oldest buildings. Incidentally, the colony's first capital wasn't here, but in nearby Okiato, now known as Old Russell.

    Sehenswürdigkeiten

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Christ Church
    Church

    1Christ Church

    Wooden church from 1835, New Zealand's oldest surviving church. The wood still bears bullet holes from the 1845 battles; early settlers and Māori lie in the cemetery.
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    Pompallier Mission
    Historic Landmark

    2Pompallier Mission

    1842 Catholic Mission building on the waterfront road, where books in Te Reo Māori were printed and bound. Tours show printing house and tannery.
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    Maiki Hill (Flagstaff Hill)
    Park

    3Maiki Hill (Flagstaff Hill)

    Hill above Russell with panoramic views of the bay. Here, Ngāpuhi chief Hōne Heke repeatedly felled the British flagstaff in 1844 and 1845, sparking the Northern War. Accessible on foot or by car.
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    Russell Museum
    Museum

    4Russell Museum

    Small local museum on York Street about the history of Kororāreka, featuring a model of Cook's ship Endeavour.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    GREEN'S Russell - THAI & INDIAN Cuisine

    A restaurant on York Street serving Thai and Indian cuisine.
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    2

    Jiffy Turkish Kebab & Salad Bar

    Kebab stand on Cass Street, also with salads.
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    3

    Hone's Garden

    Garden bar in York Street with wood-fired pizza and draft beer.
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    4

    The Boat Club Bistro

    Bistro in the boat club on Matauwhi Bay, just outside the center, with a view of the anchored boats.
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    5

    Hell Hole

    Cafe on York Street, named after Russell's old nickname, with coffee and breakfast.
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    6

    The Gables

    Restaurant in a historic wooden house on The Strand waterfront street, with water views. Evening reservations recommended.
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    Culture

    Because of its many whalers and sailors, Korōrāreka was once nicknamed the Hell Hole of the Pacific. In 1845, Ngāpuhi under Hōne Heke and Kawiti attacked the town, and large parts burned down. Christ Church and the Pompallier Mission survived this period.

    Local exploration

    The passenger ferry from Paihia docks at the central Wharf. By car, you take the ferry from Opua to Okiato, then continue by road to Russell. The town is small and easily walkable.

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    Nearby

    Bay of Islands

    Bay of Islands

    The Bay of Islands is a sprawling bay on the east coast of Northland with around 140 islands. Paihia is the departure point for boat tours; historic Russell lies opposite, and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds are right next door.
    Paihia

    Paihia

    Paihia is the main tourist hub of the Bay of Islands, a small town on a long waterfront road featuring beaches, motels, and restaurants. From the Wharf, boat tours, dolphin trips, and the ferry to Russell set off. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are reachable on foot via the bridge to the north.
    Waitangi

    Waitangi

    Waitangi lies just north of Paihia, across a small bridge. Representatives of the British Crown and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi here in 1840. The Treaty Grounds with museums, a meeting house and war canoe, are Northland's primary historical site.
    Kerikeri

    Kerikeri

    Kerikeri is a small town in the north of the Bay of Islands, surrounded by fruit orchards and vineyards. At the Kerikeri Basin stand the Kemp House and the Stone Store, the country's oldest surviving European buildings. A walking trail leads from here along the river to the Rainbow Falls.
    Northland

    Northland

    Northland stretches from Auckland to Cape Reinga at the northern tip. The east coast is rugged and full of bays, especially the Bay of Islands, while the west coast is wild with long beaches, dunes, and ancient Kauri forests. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed here in 1840.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI