The 10 Best Things to do in Russell, North Island

Pompallier Mission, where Catholic missionaries translated religious texts into Maori, printed and bound them into beautiful books, was a saintly enclave in the most sinful site of the southern seas. In what is undoubtedly one of the best heritage tours in the country, our passionate guides will take you through the steps of leather tanning and book-making as it was done by courageous pioneers living in this tiny outpost, over 170 years ago. Delight in our award winning heritage gardens, take in the wonderful views across the Bay and browse our Heritage Store for a unique reminder of a special place. Relax in our French Coffee House and enjoy the best coffee and views in the Bay! Covid19: We have increased hygiene protocols, hand sanitiser available, smaller tour group numbers, and contact tracing on site for all guests.

Nau mai, haere and welcome to Christ Church, New Zealand's oldest existing church and cemetery. A digital walk can be downloaded from the App stores from Hikoi Tahi Walking Tours which share the fascinating stories of some of the people buried here. Enjoy visiting our cemetery and do visit our beautiful church.

There are few places in the world where you get the sense of land emerging from the ocean — where you can trace the contours of the land down below the waterline, where sky, land and sea are continuous — and New Zealand’s Paroa Bay Winery and Estate is one of these places. Featuring three superb villas, a boutique vineyard, and our coastal-inspired restaurant Sage — we ensure every aspect of luxury is plentifully provided for. The first of our luxury villas, Tarāpunga, is named after the local seabirds, and nests high above the bay. With floor to ceiling windows and an infinity pool on an expansive outdoor entertaining area, Tarāpunga truly brings the incredible scenery to the fore. Our second villa, Weka, is a smaller but beautifully designed residence, and available for reservation concurrently with Tarāpunga. Our third villa, Vineyard Cottage, sits amongst the vines of our famed winery and enjoys views of the beautiful rolling green hills of both vineyard and native bush.

Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.

The Russell Museum tells the story of the development of Russell / Kororareka, from a small Maori fishing village, to a port of call for visiting ships and whalers to today's tourist town. Among the museum collections is Maori taonga including a small waka (canoe), a one-fifth scale model of Captain Cook's Endeavour, an original whaleboat and mementos of game fisherman, Zane Grey. Enjoy watching the DVD of historic Russell and see the exhibitions that are on display in the gallery. We hope you enjoy your visit. The Museum gift shop features a wide range of special gifts, souvenirs and books. The Russell Museum operates as a registered charity and does not receive any funding for operational expenses. The Museum is self funded by the entrance fee, research charges and profits from the Museum shop.