Glass-Bottom Boat Tour to the Hole in the Rock from Paihia

Paihia waterfront, the start of your Bay of Islands cruise

Paihia is the main holiday town of the Bay of Islands, about three and a half hours' drive north of Auckland in Northland, the subtropical far north of New Zealand. Its waterfront is lined with pohutukawa trees, which flower bright red around December, and the wharf in the centre of town is where most boat trips in the bay begin. Our glass-bottom boat tour leaves from here at midday, so you can enjoy a slow morning in town and still be back by mid-afternoon.

If you are wondering how to get to Paihia, most travellers drive north on State Highway 1 from Auckland or fly to Kerikeri, about 25 minutes away by road. In town, the wharf is a short stroll from the shops, cafés and waterfront accommodation, with public parking nearby. Arrive a little early to check in and choose a seat with a clear view of the glass panels.

The Bay of Islands: islands, coves and history on the way

The Bay of Islands is a drowned river valley whose ridges became scattered islands when sea levels rose after the last ice age. Its sheltered waters were among the first places in New Zealand settled by Māori, and later by European whalers and missionaries. As you leave Paihia you look across to Russell, once a rough whaling port called Kororāreka and today a quiet heritage village with the oldest surviving church in the country, completed in 1836.

Further out, the boat threads between forested islands, sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Several islands in the outer bay have been cleared of introduced predators by a community conservation project, so native birds are returning. Your guide points out landmarks and shares stories of the bay as you go. Is a Bay of Islands boat trip worth it? For most visitors it is the highlight of a Northland holiday, because the best of the area is seen from the water.

Looking through the glass floor: marine life of the bay

What sets this Hole in the Rock tour apart is the glass panel set into the hull. In calm, clear water you watch the underwater world slide past: swaying kelp forests, rocky reefs, sandy patches and fish such as snapper, blue maomao and spotted wrasse. The fish food included in your ticket is scattered at a suitable spot so the fish crowd beneath the glass, a moment that children especially love.

Above the water, keep your eyes open too. Bottlenose and common dolphins are often seen in the Bay of Islands, Australasian gannets plunge-dive for fish, and little blue penguins sometimes bob on the surface. Wildlife is wild, so sightings are never guaranteed, but the guide will point out anything that appears. Visibility below the boat depends on the weather and sea conditions and is usually clearest on calm, sunny days.

The Hole in the Rock at Cape Brett

The Hole in the Rock is a natural arch through Motukōkako, a steep island just off the tip of Cape Brett at the eastern edge of the bay. Waves rolling in from the open Pacific have worn a tunnel roughly 16 metres high straight through the rock. The island carries deep cultural significance for local Māori, and on the cape above it stands the white Cape Brett lighthouse, first lit in 1910 to guide ships along this rugged coast.

The arch is the turning point of the cruise. When the sea is calm the skipper brings the boat up close, and on suitable days may take it right through the opening for a view of the sky framed by rock. On rougher days you admire it from a safe distance. The best time to visit the Hole in the Rock is during the calmer summer months, roughly December to April, although trips run throughout the year.

Around Paihia: Waitangi and Russell after your cruise

Because the cruise ends back at Paihia wharf by mid-afternoon, it combines easily with the area's other sights. Just north of town, across the river bridge, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds mark the place where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between Māori chiefs and the British Crown. The grounds hold a carved meeting house, a great ceremonial waka canoe and an excellent museum, and they rank among the most important historic sites in New Zealand.

A passenger ferry also crosses from Paihia to Russell in about 15 minutes, where you can wander the waterfront Strand and drive or climb up Flagstaff Hill for wide views of the bay. A good way to plan a day trip to the Bay of Islands from Paihia is to visit Waitangi in the morning, join this glass-bottom boat at noon and finish with an evening on the Russell waterfront.