Aerial view of sailboats anchored among lush green islands in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, surrounded by vivid turquoise water under a bright sky.

Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Cruises to Bay of Islands, New Zealand

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Things to do in Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is basically New Zealand’s origin story wrapped in turquoise water and mythic landscapes. This is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, where Māori legend meets colonial history and where friendly sea life sometimes crashes your sightseeing plans just to show off. It’s sun, sea, story and a whole lot of archipelagic adventure.

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  • View of Captain Cook Cove’s lush green hills leading to a calm bay with rocky sea stacks under a cloudy sky in New Zealand.

    Paddle or cruise across the harbour & islands where Captain Cook once dropped anchor and Māori voyagers chased the winds.

  • Traditional Māori meeting house with intricate red carvings and a ceremonial war canoe on display at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in New Zealand.

    Explore the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where modern New Zealand was born — complete with waka canoes and carvings.

  • Historic stone store and colonial house beside a calm river in Kerikeri, New Zealand, surrounded by trees and bright green grass under a clear blue sky.

    Visit Kerikeri & Russell, two towns that look like postcards but come with centuries of drama, from whalers to missionaries.

  • Wide waterfall at Haruru Falls in New Zealand, with foaming water plunging over rock ledges surrounded by green vegetation.

    See Haruru Falls and the nearby glow‑worm caves, where nature swaps sunlight for neon.

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Shore excursions to explore in Bay of Islands

Pick your adventure: paddle a kayak, chase waterfalls or maybe just hang out with dolphins who couldn’t care less about your personal space. Every excursion to the Bay of Islands feels like it was designed by Mother Nature and directed by a history buff.

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  • Aerial view of winding blue waterways weaving through dense green mangrove forest under a bright, partly cloudy sky in Northland, New Zealand.

    Kayaking the Waterways of Waitangi

    Grab a paddle and see the Bay from the Māori point of view — low to the water, surrounded by mangroves. This guided kayak trip glides through the Waitangi Estuary to Haruru Falls, where the Waitangi River drops into a natural amphitheatre. Expect calm water, curious birds and frequent got-to-take-a-mental-picture moments. You’ll finish at sub-kissed Waitangi Beach.

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  • Bioluminescent glowworms illuminating the dark walls of a New Zealand cave, casting a blue-green glow over moss and ferns.

    Glow Worm Caves Express

    Head underground for the galaxy beneath New Zealand. At Kawiti Caves, descendants of Chief Kawiti guide you through twisting limestone passages lit by thousands of bioluminescent glow worms. It’s part science lesson, part fever dream. Stalactites hang like chandeliers, and the ‘Milky Way Cavern’ gives actual space a run for its money. It’s cool, damp, beautiful — and just a tiny bit otherworldly.

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  • Traditional Māori meetinghouse with detailed red carvings and cream panels, featuring symbolic figures and patterns beneath a partly cloudy sky.

    Best of Bay of Islands: Kerikeri and Māori Meetinghouse

    You’ll start at Kerikeri, home to New Zealand’s oldest European building and enough fruit orchards to flavor the air. Then it’s on to a Māori marae, where you’ll be welcomed with a pōwhiri (traditional ceremony) that will give you goosebumps. Inside, elders share stories carved into the meeting house walls — tales of migration, ancestors and spirit. It’s living history with actual heart.

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  • Aerial view of Russell, New Zealand, showing colorful seaside houses, lush hills and turquoise waters dotted with sailboats.

    Russell Panorama & Cultural Highlights Tour

    Sail over to Russell — New Zealand’s first capital, former whaling hotspot, current seaside charmer. A local guide spills the tea (and some rum) on the town’s scandalous past as you stroll the waterfront and visit Christ Church, the oldest in the country. There’s a snack stop at the Swordfish Club (second‑oldest game fishing club in the world) before you hit the museum and shops. History, gossip and snacks? Sold.

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  • Panoramic view of Russell Bay in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, showing calm blue water, sailboats and forested hills under a partly cloudy sky.

    Relaxing Russell Lunch Cruise

    If your vacation goals include low-effort/high-reward adventures, this is your move. Settle onto a motorboat, order a drink and drift along the Bay’s coastline past oyster farms, vineyards and islands. Lunch is pure Kiwi indulgence — lamb, fish or venison with all the sides. When the boat docks, you’ll have free time to explore, shop or just contemplate making a permanent change of residence.

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  • Towering coastal rock formation with a natural arch rising from deep blue ocean waters under a bright, partly cloudy sky.

    Best of Bay of Islands: Cruise & “Hole in the Rock”

    Oh man. We are so excited to tell you about this excursion. Board a catamaran, grab a drink and drift toward the Cape Brett Peninsula where craggy coastlines and wind-sculpted cliffs steal the spotlight. The captain steers through the famous ‘Hole in the Rock,’ a wave-carved tunnel that looks like Mother Nature got creative with a cookie cutter. Add sea breezes, hidden coves and open‑air decks made for awe, and you’ve basically hit the Bay of Islands jackpot.

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Explore all Bay of Islands shore excursions

Explore itineraries with Lyttelton port (Christchurch)

Your ship docks at Lyttelton’s purpose‑built cruise berth (just minutes from the heart of Christchurch). A quick shuttle or coach ride takes you straight into the city or up into nearby nature zones with minimal fuss. As part of your New Zealand or Australia cruise itineraries, this stop gives you access to heritage architecture, seaside views and rural expanses all in one compact package.

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Port Arthur - Tasmania, Australia

13-Day Australia & New Zealand

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Manukau Heads Lighthouse - Auckland, New Zealand

14-Day New Zealand

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Aerial Photo of Tropical Islands of French Polynesia. Capital City Papeete on Tahiti.

20-Day Tahiti, Hawaii & South Pacific Crossing

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Discover Bay of Islands on your next cruise

Bay of Islands is New Zealand at its most cinematic: glassy water, islands that look photoshopped and stories that go back a thousand years. One minute you’re listening to Māori chants on sacred ground, the next you’re skimming past cliffs in a catamaran. Princess Cruises takes you straight to the action, with itineraries that balance cultural deep dives and pure ocean bliss. Onboard luxury meets laid‑back Kiwi energy, and every sunrise feels like the start of another best day ever.

Cruise to Bay of Islands
Aerial view of Mimiwhangata Coastal Park featuring a curved golden beach, lush green hills and clear turquoise water under a bright blue sky.

Wander along Mimiwhangata’s golden sands, where emerald hills tumble into turquoise seas on New Zealand’s northern coast.

Silhouette of a hiker climbing a grassy path toward the white Cape Brett Lighthouse, backlit by the warm evening sun.

Chase golden light to the edge of the coast at Cape Brett Lighthouse.

A smiling couple stands at the railing of a Princess® cruise ship, enjoying the open sea and blue sky.

A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

Front-facing view of a Princess® cruise ship sailing through calm ocean waters.

Cut through the world’s waterways and experience the planet’s most exciting coastlines from a sea-side perspective; our fleet is your luxury-and-entertainment-packed transport to adventure.

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Step aboard any Princess® ship and discover your new favorite way to travel. Each vessel is a floating playground of flavor, comfort and top-deck experiences. Enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, Broadway-caliber entertainment, oceanview fitness and wellness studios, family programming and beds so comfortable they’ve won awards. 


No two ships are identical, but they all share one mission: turn your vacation into a standing ovation.

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Cruises to Bay of Islands FAQs

*The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.

Let Princess get you there with travel, airfare & hotels

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    Airplane to Ship Transfer

    Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

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  • Cruise Plus hotel packages

    Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

    Extend your cruise vacation and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the representative’s services.

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