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Map of Ferries to Russell Island

Taking the ferry to Russell involves a brief, highly efficient hop across the water from the neighboring mainland docks. Fullers GreatSights operates as the largest carrier managing these quick 15-minute passenger crossings, transporting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the historic whaling port every season. You can simply step off the pier and explore the compact waterfront without needing a vehicle. This short nautical link is incredibly practical for bypassing the long coastal drive when visiting from a trip to Paihia.

From Bay of Islands to Russell

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Redland Bay ↔ Russell

Stradbroke Ferries · 35m

🚗 ✕🚐 ✕Stopover: MacleayFrom A$ 15

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The Historic Port: Map of ferries to Russell

Russell was the first capital of New Zealand and is a charming, historic village in the Bay of Islands. The largest ferry operators in the region include Fullers GreatSights and Northland Ferries. You can drive a long, winding dirt road around the bay to get there, but taking a ferry is much faster and saves you a lot of driving stress.

Starting Port	Arrival Point	Travel Time
Paihia (Passenger Ferry)	Russell Wharf	15 minutes (Drops you right in the middle of town).
Opua (Car Ferry)	Okiato	10 minutes (Takes your car across the water).

Here are 3 tips for getting to Russell by ferry:

1. Know the difference in ports: If you are walking, take the passenger ferry from Paihia to Russell. If you have a car, you must drive to Opua and take the car ferry to Okiato.
2. The car ferry is continuous: The car ferry runs back and forth constantly all day. You do not need to book it. You just drive up, wait in line, and pay the crew through your car window.
3. Russell is very walkable: Most visitors leave their rental cars parked in Paihia and just take the passenger ferry. The town of Russell is very small and flat, making it perfect for walking to the historic pubs and museums.

⚠️ Expert Alert: Okiato is not Russell
If you take the car ferry to Okiato, realize that you are not in the town of Russell yet. You still have to drive about 10 minutes up the peninsula to reach the restaurants and hotels in the main village.

“Taking the passenger boat from Paihia for dinner in Russell is a classic Bay of Islands experience. You can sit right on the waterfront, eat fresh fish, and catch a late ferry back across the dark, quiet bay.”