Absolutely incredible experience. Well worth the visit up. An essential stop for any Kiwi or tourist alike. I recommend going on the guided tour (no extra cost!) as the guides are VERY knowledgeable. I'd like to thank Noah for being a great engaging guide.

We highly recommend that everyone come to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. We did their 50-minute tour, it was very informative and interesting. Thanks to CC, our amazing guide!! She's a human encyclopedia! Knowledgeable and funny! The cultural show was fantastic. We enjoyed the traditional singing and dancing, as well as their explanations. They seem to genuinely enjoy sharing their cultural traditions with us. Our lunch in the cafe was delicious!! The museums were interesting and worth the time spent. And the entire grounds is just lovely, beautifully landscaped and mostly shady. Plan to spend the whole day there.If you have the time.

Lovely calm historic park. Great gift shop and of course superb views. Not a cheap experience though especially as no interactive features.

You could spend all day here learning about the Maori culture. People where amazing, make sure you go to the treaty grounds and watch there show live.. love it and would go again.

What an amazing experience, highly recommend the guided tour, cultural experience and visiting both of their museums. It is such an important piece of heritage and was so informative and an emotional experience. The food in their cafe was delicious too!

Amazing doesn't even cut it. From the cultural dance to the guided tour. Phonemal. Such a wonderful experience for all to enjoy. Will be back to explore the grounds and gift shop!

In order to fully appreciate the historic and bicultural foundations of our nation, one must come to Waitangi. I really enjoyed walking the Treaty grounds and learning more about our history. The War memorial, the Museum and the gift shop were stand outs. A site of significance that everyone should visit

Great family friendly suitable park , uphill not very difficult, very large well built park , cafe excellent, only $10. Adult day pass .

How good! If you're in the Bay of Islands and looking to be activity this is a great option. There are trails for everyone, onsite bike hire & a cafe. Even in the warmer weather its cool amongst the trees. Great trails, great views and it's good for the body & soul!

Serendipitous and magical finding. The cruise ship made an unanticipated stop in Bay of Islands NZ. To my utter delight, a 4 km walk from the cruise port awaited a day of mountain bike paradise … in paradise. Bikes for hire (rent) are nicely spec’d full suspension high end bikes. The trails and park are fun, well marked, and offer lots of variety. And surprise: the cafe (yes there’s a cafe) offers excellent coffee, confections, and sandwiches. Make a day of it. I did and would again!

Had an absolute blast at Waitangi Mountain Bike Park! Great trails and plenty of challenges. The cafe had superb food and fabulous service. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun day out.

Class day out! There are trails for all levels of skill and fitness. Hired a marin full sus and it was more than capable at shredding down the blues and black. Great bang for your buck and a great team 👏 will be back!

Nice view of the islands, Plenty of parking even on weekends.

Was a bit nervous as a cautious beginner rider, but Abby gave me some great directions and an easy to use map. What fun! Definitely will be back.

My wife and I had an absolutely fantastic time diving with Craig and his crew at Paihia Dive in February 2025. We spent a few amazing days exploring the stunning underwater world of the Bay of Islands, and the experience far exceeded our expectations. The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly the visit to the iconic Rainbow Warrior wreck in Matauri Bay. The dive was both beautiful and poignant, and we were so impressed with how knowledgeable and respectful the crew was. They gave us a detailed briefing on the wreck's history, which made the experience so much more meaningful. The wreck itself is a thriving artificial reef, teeming with life, and it was a truly unforgettable dive. Beyond the Rainbow Warrior, we explored several other dive sites in the Bay of Islands. The variety of aquatic life we saw was incredible. What truly sets Paihia Dive apart is the professionalism and warmth of the entire team. Craig and his crew were not only incredibly skilled and safety-conscious but also genuinely friendly and passionate about diving. They made us feel completely at ease from the moment we arrived. The gear was well-maintained, the briefings were thorough, and their local knowledge of the dive sites was second to none. We had a great time and we can't wait to go back!

I had the most unforgettable experience with Paihia Dive for my very first scuba diving session! From the very beginning, the team was welcoming, supportive, and highly professional. Craig, in particular, was absolutely outstanding — patient, reassuring, and incredibly knowledgeable. He made sure that every step of the experience was explained clearly, which allowed me to feel completely safe and confident underwater. The dive itself was magical, and I couldn’t have imagined a better introduction to the underwater world. Thank you, Craig and Paihia Dive, for making this first dive so special and memorable! I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a top-quality, professional diving experience.

Great trip with Craig, Cass and crew. We did the wreck of the Canterbury and then an island/reef dive and it was a great day. As a working dive master myself, I was very impressed with their attention to detail and safety - in lower visibility, cold water diving things happen more quickly and divers can become disoriented. The team had lots of staff in the water so work with divers of varying skill level and make it safe & fun for everyone. Highly recommended. Also: Craig takes his full camera rig along on dives and shares the photos for free. A nice touch.

I had an amazing time snorkeling with Paihia Dive! The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and made the whole experience so much fun. They ensured we felt comfortable and confident in the water, which made the trip even more enjoyable. The Bay of Islands was absolutely stunning, and I loved how peaceful it felt while exploring the marine life. We saw so many incredible sea creatures, and the whole experience was unforgettable. Highly recommend Paihia Dive for anyone looking for a great snorkeling adventure!

My 15yo daughter and I had a brilliant time with Craig and the team. They really helped us out of a jam by letting her finish her Open Water Diver training, which had been delayed by another operator due to poor weather. Thanks to Paihia dive, she was able to complete her last two dives and get her ticket before we had to leave NZ – thanks SO much! Otherwise, the Canterbury wreck dive was an unexpected bonus (for me), and Craig explained that I could put it toward an Advanced Open Water qualification if I wanted to. All-in-all, an 11 out of 10 experience (the extra point is for the bakery who supplies the delicious packed lunches). Thanks again!

Fantastic dive and crew! My wife and I had an amazing time here. We did full gear rentals and 2 dives in the day, one on a wreck (HMS Canterbury) and the other on a rock reef. And they have a boat dog!!! Highly recommend Paihia Dive if you're in the Bay of Islands!

Great bunch of people and the reef diving experience was awesome (if a bit nippy!). So many inquisitive fish, some Green Morays, a massive Stingray chilling on the bottom, weird crayfish looking fellas and more. Bonus point for emotional-support dog Betty being a little star.

Great cruise. Vicky and Vanessa were super nice. They shared valuable insights about the islands and the wildlife. Both had a passion for the local wildlife and deep knowledge about this area. We were super lucky and saw many dolphins even including little ones. Beach stop with snorkeling and dinner was well timed. Overall very good package and clearly worth a recommendation.

This is, in my opinion, the best way to see the Bay of Islands and learn something about the marine life, in particular. The Carino (a catamaran) is so relaxing to sail on, and Vanessa is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the wildlife in the area. The chance to anchor offshore by one of the smaller islands to snorkel/swim was fantastic. Vanessa and Wayne were absolutely wonderful hosts and provided a lovely BBQ for lunch too. This was my last day as a tourist in NZ, and I couldn’t have spent it better doing anything else.

This trip was the highlight of our trip to Paihia! The crew was awesome. It was nice to be in a small group tour, everyone had space to lounge in the sun, and when we did see dolphins it wasn't too crowded. We were very lucky to see a pod of very active and playful dolphins, they we jumping and playing, and coming right up to the boat. There was a baby and a young dolphin with them, so we didn't get to swim, but it was amazing to watch them play. Thanks Vanessa, Leslie, and Bruce!

I read all of the reviews for Carino before booking, and I am glad I did. Most of the people who have written negative reviews did so because they didn't get to see or swim with dolphins. This is explicitly stated on the Carino website, yes it is a gamble, but you're on a boat in the Bay of Islands, that in itself is so amazing! Carino is a small tour company, family run, and they follow the DOC rules to a T. The cruise was beautiful, we saw a huge pod of dolphins, swam to shore, hiked, had a great BBQ lunch, and a quiet sale back to Paihia. I highly recommend Carino other the larger tours.

This tour was amazing! I was really keen to get out on a boat during my time in Paihia, and I couldn't have picked a better group to go with. Vanessa, Ronda, and Bruce were excellent tour guides and lovely to chat with. Obviously seeing the dolphins were the highlight, but I also truly enjoyed the smaller group size, the addition of sailing at the end of our day, and the BBQ lunch. My first swim of the year was lovely, as well! I would highly recommend this tour group to anyone looking for an unforgettable Bay of Islands experience.

What an amazing experience!!! A bonus dolphin encounter of a lifetime. Our island stop revealed beautiful panoramic views that were breathtaking!!! Thank you to the Carino team for their professionalism, expertise and hospitality!!!!

Was a good day out, boat was very spacious and not crowded with people. Staff are lovely!! Seeing the dolphins is very hit and miss, but they are wild animals. Swimming with them is extremely unlikely due to the speed in which the dolphins travel in the bay due to high number of boats and dolphins cruises flying about to see them, keeps them moving around a lot. The island stop off was nice, wasn't much to see snorkelling but as from UK was something different. Decent lunch provided. The afternoon was just a nice casual sail back to the mainland with some interesting facts along the way. Gave it a solid 4/5 due to seeing dolphins. Would be 2-3/5 if no dolphins were seen.

The Cape Reinga half day flight was just spectacular! From Paihia you could drive or be on a bus for 11 hours. Or you can see the entire north cape from 1500 feet in half a day and get to see everything and more. It was so beautiful and amazing. Our pilot Migael was a great pilot as well a knowledgeable tour guide. I can't imagine doing this trip any other way. After flying up 90 Mile Beach, we landed then drove to the lighthouse, to a pretty beach where we had tea/snacks and then to the sand dunes. The flight back south across the Bay of Islands is so beautiful! Don't miss out. Just do it!

What an amazing experience. Must do if you want to see the bay of Islands in al its glory. During the flight our pilot Josh told us some interesting facts about some of the islands.

Judy was very welcoming and kind. Josh the pilot was awesome. Had an exceptional experience covering bay of islands and landing on the hole in the rock. Josh made it so much fun and interesting with historical and current facts. God bless you i had a great time.

There's no denying the 20 minutes helicopter ride (the big bird seats 5 and smaller bird 3) was very good. At a little over NZ$300pp (inc credit card surcharge) about US$177, it was not inexpensive. But hey on vacation let's not fret over some expenses.

We took the Hole in the Rock helicopter flight and absolutely loved it. Was more than we'd normally spend on an activity but worth every penny to have the best views over BOI. Our pilot was great to talk to and very knowledgeable, office staff also were friendly and great to deal with. Still buzzing 3 days later about the whole experience, images to last a lifetime!

Just back from an amazing 2hr flight to Cape Reinga, the views were incredible. Our pilot Jonathan was great. Totally worth doing.

A great experience and the best way to see Bay of Islands in New Zealand. You cant really appreciate the beauty of this place unless you do this helicopter trip. The company is professional and the pilots are knowledgeable and give you some good information on the islands as you fly over. As far as helicopter trips go, the pricing is fairly reasonable also. To anyone visiting Bay of Islands, I would recommend doing this experience to witness the true beauty of this region!

What a quirky tourist attraction but it is definitely worth a stop - great honour to the architect who has other features along the main street. Quite unique & a bit Gaudi-ish. Behind the toilets is a beautiful gallery - not open when we visited. The town is worth a quick walk up the street as an interesting place. Check the steam railway timetable, as it was working on a Sunday with a number of guests aboard. Interestingly it chugs straight down the main street.

Unusual to say the least! Good to see it close up and personal!

Something of a talking point from our tour guide so we stopped by to see for ourselves. Interesting mosaic art making use of tile and glass bottles. Very interesting, if not busy in its sense of style. Either way, the bathrooms were very clean and well maintained, however the soap dispenser was empty.

I absolutely loved it, Absolutely! Only in Kawakawa can a toilet be this cool. The Hundertwasser Toilets are a riot of color, curves, and creativity designed by the legendary artist himself in 1999. Mosaic tiles? Check. Wavy floors? Yup. A tree growing out of the roof? Obviously. It’s part bathroom, part art gallery, and 100% worth a pit stop. Who says nature calls can't be a cultural experience?

Very unique and clean. A must stop over and photo moments. 😊

Just fantastic. A must experience. I have no idea how they can keep them clean!

Must see. Truely unbelievable in a very nice way.

Unfortunately I came here and I’m on a strict diet so I decided to buy the grainy bread sandwich and the egg had mold in it :( was only here for a few days. Very disappointed.

My partner & I had a paua pie this morning...A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Best pie. So seriously give it a try...you will not regret it ( all you seafood eaters that is). Definitely going back for more. Well done ladies, 2 satisfied customers. We coming back.

Food was surprisingly good for a small town bakery. Apart from the usual baked goods, which include a huge selection of pies, they sell burgers and chips. Fish and chips, saute chicken, plus a few other items.

Food is soo yummy, fresh and cheap. Clean Cafe and great atmosphere. Friendly staff. Will stop over here again. Fish 🐟 and 🍟 was best. Highly recommended.

Went in there to sit and have a couple of Pies and we were not disappointed with them, they were deliscious, we wanted to go another round they were that nice, but had to stop ourselves. Service was quick, Cafe itself looks abit tired inside, plenty of tables to sit at. Was abit noisy only because of 3 teenage boys showing off making a nuisance of themselves, but that wasn't the bakeries fault, we were only there for the Pies and a soft drink

I was told about the doughnuts so thought it rude not to give em a try (even though I'm not typically a doughnut liker). Fricken yummy, bought a heap for famzwe were visiting. Wow they were so fresh and just delicious, everyone commented. Also, best fruit pies I've ever eaten, for real. The pastry is divine, (probably half a pound of butter in each one tho) The rhubarb filling though secondary to the pastry was good also. On the way back from our trip we stopped by again and my husband bought a cream donut sandwich. He insisted I taste it he was so impressed. Not so keen i took a bite, and then another and another. He laughed at my expression, it was soooo good. It's just as well this place is 5hrs drive from our place.. Edit: Bought some this week - pastry recipe appears to have changed in the past couple years and definitely has less butter and tastes stock standard now (sign of the times everything is so expensive now). So disappointed. However the Paua pie was very nice.

I called in and got the bacon and egg breakfast bun which was sooo yummy, and the pistachio chocolate strawberry creamy croissant for my elderly dad, the ladies were helpful and friendly, totally recommend.