Russell Mini Tour

A Quick History Lesson in New Zealand’s First Town

Russell is worth more than a quick wander along the waterfront, but it’s also small enough that you don’t need a full day. The Russell Mini Tour solves this perfectly: one hour on a small coach with a local guide who knows the town’s history and can cover ground you wouldn’t easily walk, especially in limited time or if mobility is an issue.

Russell (originally called Kororāreka) was New Zealand’s first town and seaport. By the 1830s it had earned a reputation as a rough place where whalers, traders, deserters, and escaped convicts from Australia mixed. It was chaotic enough that some called it “the hellhole of the Pacific.” The town cleaned up after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, but the early history is what makes Russell interesting.

What You Get

The tour departs from Russell five times daily (10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm), so you can fit it around other activities like ferry crossings or lunch. One hour is genuinely one hour, not stretched to 90 minutes with pickup logistics.

The small coach visits Russell’s key historic sites with stops and commentary from the driver/guide. You see Christ Church, New Zealand’s oldest church, which still has musket ball holes in its walls from the 1845 Flagstaff War. Pompallier House, home to Bishop Pompallier’s Catholic Mission and the oldest industrial building in the country (it housed a printing press for Catholic texts). The Duke of Marlborough Hotel, New Zealand’s oldest licensed pub, which has been serving drinks since 1827 (with a few interruptions and rebuilds).

The tour also goes to Flagstaff Hill (Te Maiki), where Hōne Heke famously cut down the British flagstaff four times in protest against colonial authority. The views from Flagstaff Hill across the bay are excellent, and the site has genuine historical significance in the tensions between Māori and the Crown.

You drive past Oneroa (Long Beach) and hear about the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club, the world’s second oldest game fishing club, made famous by American author Zane Grey in the 1920s.

The guide provides context about Russell’s early days, the Treaty of Waitangi, the Flagstaff War, and how the town evolved from rough port to quiet heritage site. The tour covers areas that are spread out enough that walking would take much longer and wouldn’t include the same level of historical detail.

Who Is It Good For?

This tour works well for people with limited time who want more than a self-guided waterfront walk but don’t have half a day to explore Russell thoroughly. One hour is efficient without feeling rushed.

History enthusiasts appreciate the focused commentary and access to someone knowledgeable. You could read plaques around town yourself, but having a local explain the context and stories brings it to life more effectively.

Older visitors or anyone with mobility issues benefit from the coach format. Russell has hills, and some of the sites (Flagstaff Hill especially) aren’t easy walks. The coach handles the geography while you get the information and views.

The tour also suits people arriving on the ferry from Paihia who want a structured activity before or after lunch. The multiple daily departures make it easy to schedule.

Combining with Other Activities

Fullers offers combo packages pairing the Russell Mini Tour with their Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise. If you’re doing both, the combo pricing is better than booking separately. A common approach: take the morning ferry from Paihia to Russell, do the 10am or 11am tour, have lunch in Russell, then either explore more or catch the ferry back.

Russell is small, so an hour tour plus some time walking the waterfront, visiting Pompallier House properly (the tour drives past but doesn’t include entry), or having fish and chips at a waterfront café makes for a pleasant half-day.

Practical Notes

The tour runs year-round with five daily departures, so availability is rarely an issue outside of peak summer when it might book out. Russell is quieter than Paihia overall, so even in busy periods the tour maintains an intimate feel.

At one hour, it’s efficient and covers the main sites well. Not essential if you’re happy researching and walking around yourself, but good value if you want guided context and efficient coverage of the main sites.

About this Activity

• Free cancellation – No penalty for changes or cancellations up to 24 hours before departure.
• Reserve now & pay later – Keep your travel plans flexible.
• Duration – 1 hour.
• Departure – Daily from Russell at 10:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and 3:00pm.
• Suitable for – All ages and mobility levels. Coach-based tour suitable for those who cannot easily walk hills.

What’s Included

• 1-hour guided coach tour of Russell’s historic sites
• Visit to Christ Church (oldest church in New Zealand with musket ball holes from 1845 Flagstaff War)
• Pompallier House viewing (oldest industrial building in New Zealand, Catholic Mission printing press site)
• Duke of Marlborough Hotel (New Zealand’s oldest licensed pub, operating since 1827)
• Flagstaff Hill (Te Maiki) with views across the bay and historical significance from Hōne Heke’s protests
• Oneroa (Long Beach) drive past
• Commentary about Bay of Islands Swordfish Club and Zane Grey connection
• Engaging local guide providing historical context and stories
• Coverage of areas not easily accessible on foot
• Family passes available, children under 5 travel free

Practical Information

Season: Year-round daily departures. Five departure times provide flexibility to fit around ferry schedules and other activities.

Getting there: Departures from Russell town center. If arriving by ferry from Paihia, the departure point is a short walk from the wharf. Russell is small, so everything is within easy reach.

What to bring: Camera for photos at Flagstaff Hill and other scenic spots. No special equipment needed as this is a coach tour.

Duration and scheduling: One hour is genuinely one hour. The multiple daily departures (10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm) make it easy to fit around ferry times, lunch plans, or other activities. Morning departures work well before lunch in Russell. Afternoon departures suit people who’ve had lunch and want a structured activity before catching the ferry back to Paihia.

Historical context: Russell (Kororāreka) was New Zealand’s first permanent European settlement and seaport. By the 1830s it had a rough reputation, mixing whalers, traders, missionaries, and various unsavory characters. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed nearby in 1840. The Flagstaff War in 1845-46 saw Hōne Heke cut down the British flagstaff on Maiki Hill four times in protest against colonial authority. These events shaped early New Zealand history.

Christ Church: Built in 1836, this is the oldest surviving church in New Zealand. The musket ball holes in the walls are from the 1845 Battle of Kororāreka during the Flagstaff War. The church is still in use and worth seeing.

Walking vs. coach tour: Russell is small and walkable, but hilly. The waterfront is flat and easy. Flagstaff Hill is a steep climb. Pompallier House and Christ Church are manageable walks from the wharf. The coach tour covers more ground efficiently and includes commentary you won’t get from plaques. If you have limited time or mobility issues, the tour makes sense. If you enjoy exploring at your own pace and don’t mind the hills, walking is free.

Entry to buildings: The tour drives past or stops at historic sites but doesn’t include entry fees to Pompallier House or extended time inside Christ Church. If you want to tour Pompallier House properly, do that separately (it’s worth visiting if you’re interested in early printing and Catholic mission history).

Combo options: Fullers offers combo packages with the Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise at better rates than separate bookings. Common combination: Morning Hole in the Rock cruise from Paihia, Russell Mini Tour in early afternoon, explore Russell, return ferry to Paihia.

Russell as a destination: Russell is quieter and more heritage-focused than Paihia. Good cafés, craft shops, and waterfront walks. Worth spending a few hours beyond just the tour. The Duke of Marlborough Hotel does good pub meals if you want lunch with historical ambiance.

Nearby: Russell is a short ferry ride from Paihia (passenger ferry takes about 10 minutes). Car ferry also available if you’re driving. Waitangi Treaty Grounds is a 10-minute drive from Paihia. Many visitors base themselves in Paihia and visit Russell as a day trip.