Paihia is on the western shore of the Bay of Islands, around 230 km north of Auckland on SH11. It's the main tourist hub of the Bay of Islands and gateway to Waitangi and Russell.

How far is Waitangi from Paihia?

The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are around 3 km north of central Paihia, an easy 10-minute drive or 35-minute walk via the Waitangi Bridge. Free shuttles also run regularly during the day.

What is the Hole in the Rock cruise?

The Hole in the Rock cruise is a 4-hour boat trip from Paihia out to Cape Brett, passing through a natural rock arch (weather permitting). Multiple operators run daily departures, with dolphin sightings common in season.

How do I get from Paihia to Russell?

The passenger ferry from Paihia wharf to Russell takes 15 minutes, with departures every 20 to 30 minutes through the day. The car ferry from Opua to Okiato (a different route) takes 10 minutes.

How do I get from Auckland to Paihia?

By car, around 3 to 3.5 hours via SH1 and SH10. Daily InterCity bus services run from Auckland. The closest airport is Kerikeri Airport, around 25 minutes' drive from Paihia.

Which schools are in zone for Paihia?

Children living in Paihia are in zone for Bay of Islands College. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.

How do I check my school zone in Paihia?

Use the School Zone Checker on this page — enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Paihia, Northland | Schools, Lifestyle & Local Guide

Living in Paihia

Paihia is the tourism hub of the Bay of Islands, around 230 km north of Auckland. Population around 1,800, with several times that through the village on any given summer day. It's the gateway to Waitangi (the Treaty Grounds are 3 km north), Russell (15-minute ferry across the bay), and the cluster of 144 islands that give the area its name.

The Paihia waterfront on Marsden Road is the central strip: ferry terminals, dive shops, dolphin-watching tour operators, fishing charters, restaurants and cafés. The Maritime Building handles most of the tourist operations. The Hole in the Rock cruise (out to Cape Brett and back) is the most-booked day trip.

The Treaty Grounds at Waitangi, 3 km north, are where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 - the most significant historical site in the country. Te Whare Rūnanga (the carved meeting house, completed 1940) and the original Treaty House are open daily for visits.

Paihia is small, summer-busy and walkable. The Coastal Walkway runs south to Opua via mangrove boardwalks. Mountain biking trails climb up behind the village. The Saturday Paihia Market on Williams Road covers the local arts and crafts. A decent base for a few days, longer if the weather holds.

Is Paihia a good place to live?

Paihia is home to roughly 1,623 people. On Suburb's overall livability scale, Paihia scores 58 out of 100, with a safety score of 60/100 and 72% green space.

Schools: Paihia has 4 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.

Housing: The estimated median value is around $847K, and weekly rent typically sits around $360.

Lifestyle: Paihia has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. Public transport stops are within easy reach. The current temperature is 10.5°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.

Whether Paihia is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.

Map

Livability Breakdown

Safety60
Amenities100
Schools32
Housing Affordability44
Green space100
Community22
Transport10

Property & Economics

Est. Median Value: $847K
Median Weekly Rent: $360/wk
Median HH Income: $69K/yr
Pop. Growth (5yr): +7.3%
Data Year: 2023

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.

Nearby Suburbs

Browse all suburbs in Far North District →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Paihia?: Paihia is on the western shore of the Bay of Islands, around 230 km north of Auckland on SH11. It's the main tourist hub of the Bay of Islands and gateway to Waitangi and Russell.
How far is Waitangi from Paihia?: The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are around 3 km north of central Paihia, an easy 10-minute drive or 35-minute walk via the Waitangi Bridge. Free shuttles also run regularly during the day.
What is the Hole in the Rock cruise?: The Hole in the Rock cruise is a 4-hour boat trip from Paihia out to Cape Brett, passing through a natural rock arch (weather permitting). Multiple operators run daily departures, with dolphin sightings common in season.
How do I get from Paihia to Russell?: The passenger ferry from Paihia wharf to Russell takes 15 minutes, with departures every 20 to 30 minutes through the day. The car ferry from Opua to Okiato (a different route) takes 10 minutes.
How do I get from Auckland to Paihia?: By car, around 3 to 3.5 hours via SH1 and SH10. Daily InterCity bus services run from Auckland. The closest airport is Kerikeri Airport, around 25 minutes' drive from Paihia.

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Paihia

Schools in zone for Paihia

Children living in Paihia have a guaranteed right to enrol at these school, based on Ministry of Education home zones.

Bay of Islands College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 499 · decile 1

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Enter your address to check your school zone in Paihia. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.

Other nearby schools

Schools close to Paihia that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).

Paihia School
Full Primary · roll 148 · decile 2 · 0.3 km away
Russell School (Bay Of Islands)
Full Primary · roll 67 · decile 5 · 4.1 km away
Opua School
Full Primary · roll 90 · decile 5 · 4.5 km away

Explore Paihia

Things to do(11)

Bay of Islands Swordfish Club Inc

Bay Of Islands Kayak Cruises

Earl Grey Fishing Charters

Target Charters

Freedive Aotearoa

Paihia Village Green

Days Out Fishing Charters

Dance Bay Paihia

Bay of Islands Fitness Hub

Triple F Paihia

Waitangi Holiday Park, 21 Tahuna Road, Waitangi, NZ

Parks & green spaces(2)

Paihia Village Green

Waitangi Holiday Park, 21 Tahuna Road, Waitangi, NZ

Healthcare(5)

Paihia Pharmacy

Bay View Medical Centre

Pahia Medical

The Village Vet

Month	High (°C)	Low (°C)	Rainfall (mm/day)	Sunshine (hrs/day)
☀️ Jan	23.66	17.22	4.44	10.73
☀️ Feb	23.77	17.15	4.34	10.27
🍂 Mar	22.68	14.92	1.64	10.23
🍂 Apr	20.68	14.53	4.31	8.37
🍂 May	18.16	12.08	4.26	7.97
❄️ Jun	16.35	10.26	4.46	6.78
❄️ Jul	15.73	9.48	5.56	7.11
❄️ Aug	15.7	8.65	4.05	7.8
🌸 Sep	17.22	9.97	3.76	9.13
🌸 Oct	18.14	11.22	4.03	10.29
🌸 Nov	20.26	12.61	4.1	11.01
☀️ Dec	22.75	15.41	3.41	10.77

Living in Paihia

Is Paihia a good place to live?

Map

Livability Breakdown

Property & Economics

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Paihia

Schools in zone for Paihia

Bay of Islands College

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Other nearby schools

Paihia School

Russell School (Bay Of Islands)

Opua School

Explore Paihia

🎯Things to do(11)

Bay of Islands Swordfish Club Inc

Bay Of Islands Kayak Cruises

Earl Grey Fishing Charters

Target Charters

Freedive Aotearoa

Paihia Village Green

Days Out Fishing Charters

Dance Bay Paihia

Bay of Islands Fitness Hub

Triple F Paihia

Waitangi Holiday Park, 21 Tahuna Road, Waitangi, NZ

🌳Parks & green spaces(2)

Paihia Village Green

Waitangi Holiday Park, 21 Tahuna Road, Waitangi, NZ

🏥Healthcare(5)

Paihia Pharmacy

Bay View Medical Centre

Pahia Medical

The Village Vet

Bayview Medical Centre

Eat & Drink in Paihia

🍽️Places to eat & drink(71)

Glasshouse Kitchen and Bar

Alongside All Day Dining

Mr. Donburi

Avo Sushi

Jfc

Greens Paihia - Thai

Green's Paihia - Indian Cuisine

Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack

King Wah Chinese Restaurant

Cafe 10

Letz Cafe

Tipsy Oyster Tapas and Bar

El Cafe

Swordfish Bar & Bistro

CBK Craft Beer & Kitchen

Paihia Sports Bar & TAB

Pizza Shack

The Third Wheel

Bad Habits

Terra Restaurant

The Blue Door

King's Road Bar And Pizza

The Hideout Restaurant & Bar

Zane Grey's - The Aquarium

Zane Grey's - The Dock

Charlotte's Kitchen

Breeze Cafe & Grill

The Crafty Local

Popbees

Mr. Sonburi

The Salty Bar

Third Wheel Coffee Co.

The Wave Kitchen & Bar

The Crafty Local

Rayz on the Bay Paihia

Darryl's Dinner Cruise

35 Degrees South

Nikau Bar & Restaurant

Alfresco's

Things to do(11)

Parks & green spaces(2)

Healthcare(5)

Places to eat & drink(71)

Tradies & services(6)

Shops(12)

Beauty & fitness(14)