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The Bay of Islands is a place of exquisite natural beauty and historical import. It is here that the first permanent British settlement - a whaling port by the name of Russell - was established in the 19th Century, paving the way for the colonization of New Zealand. Inhabited by the Maori long before the arrival of the Europeans, the Bay of Islands was then known as Pewhairangi, and remains a locale that is much revered for its native roots. The Treaty of Waitangi was also conceived of and signed right here in 1840. The bay is formed of a submerged valley and is a natural harbor with a rippled coastline inlaid with peninsulas and inlets. Today, this picturesque, sub-tropical paradise is best-known as a destination for big-game fishing, a collection of over 140 islands that speckle the gemstone waters of the ocean like emeralds on a bed of turquoise. Fringed by unspoiled beaches and rife with cultural relics, the Bay of Islands is one of the nation's top tourist quarters. Sailing through the Hole in the Rock and dolphin watching are some of the top-billed experiences to be had here.
