New Zealand—Paihia, February 1-3, 2025

 Paihia, February 3, 2025

Our last full day in Paihia was spent in Russell/Kororareka across the bay. It, and the entire Bay of Islands area, was settled by the Maori around 1250 where they thrived and eventually grew wealthy trading with European whalers in the 1800's. I linked Paihia and Russell/Koroaeka above so you can read the history of both towns. The Bay of Islands is considered the birth place of the nation after the Waitangi Treaty was signed February 6, 1840, establishing the rights of the Maori and all New Zealanders.

Game fishing is huge here.

Russell/Kororareka is a 15 minute ride across the bay.

Welcome to Russell/Kororareka.

Just loved this tree.

At the end of the walkway is this entrance to a space honoring Tamati Waka Nene.

Click to enlarge for easier reading.

Maori pillars (Pou) honoring significant...

...moments in Tamati Waka Nene's life.

 

Tamati Waka Nene, a friend to the English.

Whaling boat used to ferry folks across the bay to Paihia.

Paintings of whalers and a cauldron used to render whale blubber.

Typical house. Today it's a cafe and gift shop adjacent to the Pompallier Mission School.

Pompallier Mission School, 1839.

Established in 1839. Over the next 8 years over 40,000 books were printed and translated into Maori.

Obviously, a war memorial. While reading the plaque I heard a familiar sound and...

...it was some folks playing pickleball and...

...they insisted I join them for a game.

This is the fig tree mentioned on the sign below.

See description to the left.

Duke of Marlborough Hotel facing the harbor.

By the time Christ Church was built (1835), Kororāreka (Maori name for Russell) was already a thriving trading center and whaling resupply stopover.

Some of these headstones date back to the 1840's.

Blue Penguin Gelato was a good decision.

Catching the ferry back to Paihia.

Russell waterfront taken from the ferry.

February 4th is another travel day. We're heading to Warkworth, a halfway point to Hamilton. Taking the bus has meant making some compromises. I didn't want to take a 6.5 hour bus ride from Paihia to Hamilton, so I investigated halfway stops along the way and Warkworth fit the bill. We'll see if my investigation from Bainbridge Island was the right call.