Most visitors to the Bay of Islands region arrive on New Zealand’s North Island at Auckland International Airport, from where you can take a connecting flight to the Bay of Island. Auckland International Airport is served by over a dozen international airlines, with Air New Zealand being the national carrier and operating the bulk of long-haul flights.

Air New Zealand Link provides daily service from Auckland to Kerikeri Bay of Islands Airport. The flight time to Kerikeri from Auckland is approximately 45 minutes. Limited passenger facilities are available at this small terminal including a business meeting room and easy parking. Taxi and shuttle services are on hand for passengers needing transport to their hotel.

As the attractions in the Bay of Islands area are spread-out, getting around requires some planning. Hiring a car certainly makes it easier to get from town to town, while taking advantage of ferry services offers not only alternatives to longer drives, but it also adds another perspective to the trip.

Access to the out-of-the way destinations is made easier by having a hire car, but once you’ve arrived in the area’s towns you’ll find that walking is the easiest and most interesting way to get around and see the sights.

Car hire operators are found at the Kerikeri Bay of Islands Airport and also in the towns of Paihia and Kerikeri. Russell can be reached by two ferry services: a passenger-only service that operates directly from Paihia and a passenger and vehicle service operating from Opua’s small wharf just outside Paihia. The passenger ferry travels directly to Russell’s in-town wharf while the vehicle ferry service arrives at a terminal that’s located about a 15-minute drive from Russell.

Intercity bus service is available on daily schedules that connect the major towns of the Northland. There are also shuttle bus services that connect Kerikeri and Paihia. Taxi service is not as readily available as it is in major cities in New Zealand, and taking a taxi is not a practical transport option due to the distances involved. For transfer from the Bay of Islands Airport to Kerikeri town, taxis are a reasonable option, however.