Major city · New Zealand
Paihia
Base here 2 nights for the Bay of Islands: one full day on the water, one morning at Waitangi Treaty Grounds, then move on.
Paihia is a small waterfront town of about 1,500 people on the Bay of Islands, the main base for boat trips, dolphin cruises and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Most of it is walkable, and two nights covers the water and the history without rushing. It is a 3–4 hour drive or coach ride north of Auckland, or a 20-minute shuttle from Kerikeri airport.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- NZD
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (warm, calm seas); Nov and Apr for fewer crowds
- avoid Jun–Aug (wet, rough seas, some trips cancelled)
- Airport
- KKE
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- New Zealand ↗Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA (with the tourism levy) before travel, including many transit passengers; others need a visa. Apply only through Immigration New Zealand or its official app, and check the rules for your passport.
- New Zealand ↗Declare all food, plant and animal products, and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents, on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; undeclared risk items bring instant fines.
- New Zealand ↗Drive on the left; give way as signed at one-lane bridges; an English-language licence or one with an approved translation or International Driving Permit is required.
- New Zealand ↗Freedom camping is restricted: sleep in a vehicle only where signed as allowed, and in many places only in certified self-contained vehicles.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Paihia111 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Paihia, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD, NZ$).New Zealand-wide
- SIM or eSIMOne NZ, Spark and 2degrees sell tourist SIMs at Auckland and Christchurch arrivals and in supermarkets; passport not required.New Zealand-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe almost everywhere; follow boil-water notices in small rural schemes.New Zealand-wide
- TippingCafé or restaurant: Nothing expected; 10% for very good service at dinner is a bonus.New Zealand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.New Zealand-wide
- SafetyPaihia is a small, low-crime town and safe to walk in the evening.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets in every town and at most lookouts; DOC long-drops on tracks.New Zealand-wide
- Emergency numbers111 police, fire, ambulance · 105 Non-urgent police · *555 Traffic (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day morning and Christmas Day by law; small-town shops close by 17:00 and on Sunday afternoons…Shops closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day morning and Christmas Day by law; small-town shops close by 5:00 PM and on Sunday afternoons…New Zealand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckKKE Kerikeri (Bay of Islands) Airport (Air New Zealand from Auckland; about 20–25 min by car or shuttle to Paihia (check)).
- Getting aroundThe town is small enough to walk: wharf, shops and restaurants are within 15 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeNZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5)
- BeerDraught beer in a pubNZ$9–12 (≈ US$6–8)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekNZ$20–40 (≈ US$12–25)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personNZ$35 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomNZ$200 (≈ US$120)
- High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomNZ$380 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget NZ$90 (≈ US$55) · Mid NZ$170 (≈ US$100) · High NZ$320 (≈ US$190)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KKE Kerikeri (Bay of Islands) Airport (Air New Zealand from Auckland; about 20–25 min by car or shuttle to Paihia (check))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Feb
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Mar
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Apr
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
May
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jun
Avoid
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Jul
Avoid
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Aug
Avoid
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Sep
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Oct
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Nov
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Dec
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jul (8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C) low), wettest Jul (17 rain days), driest Jan (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Paihia: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8 rd
Feb
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8 rd
Mar
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
10 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
12 rd
May
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
14 rd
Jun
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
16 rd
Jul
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
17 rd
Aug
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
16 rd
Sep
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
14 rd
Oct
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
13 rd
Nov
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
11 rd
Dec
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is small enough to walk: wharf, shops and restaurants are within 15 minutes on foot. Local taxis cover longer hops. A passenger ferry runs to Russell (roughly hourly, timetable varies by season); a vehicle ferry crosses Okiato–Opua about 6 km south.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Russell
goDoor to door: About 15 min crossing
Passenger ferry from Paihia wharf, roughly hourly
Historic town, good for a half-day; timetable varies by season.
Door to door: About 30 min
Car or coach, about 25–30 min
Markets, stone store and the airport; easy half-day.
Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach
cautionDoor to door: Full day, 10–12 h
Organised coach tour from Paihia
Long day in the coach; only worth it if you are not driving north yourself.
Urupukapuka Island
goDoor to door: Half to full day
Included in many Bay of Islands cruises
Walks and beaches; part of the Project Island Song restoration.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Marsden Road waterfront
Walk to the wharf, tours and restaurants; the most convenient for a short stay.
Kings Road / Selwyn Road
Backpackers and motels 5–10 min walk from the centre; quieter, cheaper.
Waitangi
Resort side, 30–45 min walk or a short drive north of town; closest to the Treaty Grounds.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- NZ$70–120 (≈ US$45–75) excl. bed
- Mid
- NZ$130–220 (≈ US$80–130) excl. bed
- High
- NZ$250 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × NZ$200 | NZ$400 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × NZ$170 | NZ$680 |
| Bay of Islands dolphin cruise, half day2 × NZ$120 · check | NZ$240 |
| Waitangi Treaty Grounds admission, international visitor2 × NZ$50 · check | NZ$100 |
| Paihia–Russell passenger ferry, return2 × NZ$20 · check | NZ$40 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × NZ$30 | NZ$60 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | NZ$152 |
| Trip total≈ NZ$418 per person per day, bed included | NZ$1,672≈ US$1,000 |
2026 estimate in NZ dollars; flights and rental cars excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | NZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Ice cream from the kioskcheck | NZ$4–6 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Fish and chips or a pub main | NZ$20–32 (≈ US$12–19) |
| Restaurant main, seafood | NZ$30–40 (≈ US$18–25) |
| Draught beer in a pub | NZ$9–12 (≈ US$6–8) |
| Half-day dolphin cruisecheck | NZ$95–130 (≈ US$60–80) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | NZ$20–40 (≈ US$12–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Book cruises and the Waitangi guided tour ahead in Dec–Feb; boats fill on fine days.
- Sea conditions cancel or shorten cruises in winter; keep a wet-weather plan.
- Drinking alcohol in public in town is prohibited.
- One-lane bridges and left-hand driving on the approach roads; allow more time than the map suggests.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 111
- Non-urgent police
- 105
- Traffic
- *555
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
PaihiaPaihia
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ki tēnei wāhi, koaTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance111
- Non-urgent police105
- Traffic*555
Embassy
No embassies in Paihia; consulates and embassies are in Auckland and Wellington (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Paihia → Russell ferry: about NZ$20 (≈ US$12) return, 15 min (check)
- Kerikeri Airport → Paihia shuttle: about NZ$35–45 (≈ US$25–30), 20–25 min (check)
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds admission: about NZ$50 (≈ US$30) international visitors (check)
Say or show
- Kia ora — Thank you
- Nau mai, haere mai — Hello / Welcome
- Koa — Please
- Ka kite anō — Goodbye
- He aha te utu? — How much is it?
- Kei hea te wharepaku? — Where is the toilet?
Māori phrases are a courtesy; English is spoken everywhere.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Paihia. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Dec–Apr (warm, calm seas); Nov and Apr for fewer crowds · avoid Jun–Aug (wet, rough seas, some trips cancelled) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for KKE: last shuttle times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: wharf and Marsden Road, Kings Road, Waitangi.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Waitangi Treaty Grounds, wharf departures, Opua forest track) and eat pages with last orders.
- Weather and sea-state fixtures so cruise days can go green or be swapped.