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Ferries to Paihia: Route Map

Traveling to Paihia by water relies heavily on the quick passenger shuttles darting across the Bay of Islands. Fullers GreatSights is the largest operator managing this local transit, transporting thousands of daily sightseers and commuters throughout the year. You can easily walk straight off the boat into the town center or catch a 15-minute connecting ride to Russell. Since these are strictly foot-passenger ferries, you must leave your vehicle securely parked at your starting terminal.

From Bay of Islands to Paihia

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Paihia ↔ Russell (NZ)

Fullers GreatSights · 15m

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The Bay Hub: Ferries to Paihia route map

Paihia is the busy tourist center of the beautiful Bay of Islands in New Zealand. The largest ferry operators in the region include Fullers GreatSights and Explore Group. Most people use the quick passenger boats here to jump across the water to the historic town of Russell instead of driving all the way around the bay.

Starting Point	Travel Time	What to Expect
Russell (Passenger)	15 minutes	Leaves every 20 to 30 minutes from morning until late at night. Foot passengers only.
Okiato to Opua (Car Ferry)	10 minutes	This boat takes cars. Opua is just a 5 minute drive down the road from Paihia.

Here are 3 tips for getting to Paihia by ferry:

1. No booking needed: For the quick passenger ferry between Russell and Paihia, you do not need to book ahead. You can buy a ticket at the booth on the wharf or right on the boat.
2. Keep your ticket handy: If you buy a return ticket, put it somewhere safe. They are small paper stubs, and if you lose it on the beach, you have to buy a new one to get back.
3. Parking in Paihia: The Paihia wharf area gets very busy with tourists taking cruise boats. If you are leaving your car in Paihia to visit Russell, use the large paid parking lots a few blocks back from the water.

⚠️ Expert Alert: Late night returns
The passenger ferry runs late into the evening so people can have dinner in Russell and sleep in Paihia. However, schedules change in the winter. Always check the sign at the dock for the final departure time so you are not stranded in the dark.

“Try to grab a seat on the top deck. It is a very short ride, but the views of the sailboats in the harbor are fantastic, and you can often spot dolphins swimming right next to the ferry in the summer.”