The seemingly winterless, subtropical northern tip of New Zealand is a story of two great bodies of water; the Tasman Sea to the west and the mighty Pacific Ocean to the east; coming together to form a canvas of long, untouched, beautiful beaches; nonchalantly placed islands; giant Kauri trees from another time and a peacefulness that will leave you speechless. All of this painted in a palette so vivid it defies belief.
The Bay of Islands is the jewel in the crown of northern New Zealand. The natural beauty is undoubted and a day or two out on the water, surrounded by spectacular vistas and wildlife that flourishes in abundance is a perfect way to immerse yourself in what it means to be in this micro-region. But if you scratch a little deeper you will uncover that there is more to this region than meets the eye. A rich history of power, struggle, and colonialism; capped by the not-to-be-missed Waitangi Treaty Grounds provide the story of how modern day New Zealand came to be, when in 1840 the signing of New Zealand’s most important artefact; The Treaty of Waitangi took place.
