Russell, 20 minutes by ferry from Paihia

📍Russell An island accessible by ferry from Paihia. 🚢 Payment is made upon boarding, at $9 one way (cash and cards accepted). The ferry from Paihia to Russell departs at 7:30 AM. The waves were calm, and we arrived in Russell without any rocking. I tried the Flagstaff Hill walking trail, and the view of the town of Russell from above, which took about two hours, was so beautiful! ✨ Christ Church, Kororāreka Russell, founded in 1836, is considered one of the oldest churches in New Zealand. The pews inside were adorable! There were other tourists there, too, as it's a popular tourist spot! I was curious to check out Oneroa Bay Beach (Long Bay) after hearing locals say it has the most beautiful ocean in the world! It's about a 25-minute walk from the town of Russell, and the ocean here was surprisingly beautiful! They also seem to catch sea urchins, as there were several scattered on the shore. 😂 I ate at the restaurant at the Duke of Marlborough Hotel, and I was craving Bay of Island oysters, so I ordered some! Oysters were $5 each and could be ordered individually! They had no fishy smell and were creamy and delicious. 🩵 The restaurant had a cute, retro feel and a great atmosphere! !! The honey cake 🍯 at The French Coffee House was delicious. 🍰🤍 The relaxing space and clean restrooms made this a cafe I'd definitely like to return to. ✨ Honey cake 🍯 was $8.50 each!