Russell is a small town on the eastern shore of the Bay of Islands, opposite Paihia. It's reached by ferry from Paihia (15 minutes) or by car around the bay via Opua.

How do I get from Paihia to Russell?

The passenger ferry from Paihia to Russell takes 15 minutes, running constantly through the day. The car ferry from Opua to Okiato (5 km south of Russell) takes 10 minutes and runs frequently.

What was Kororāreka?

Kororāreka was the Māori name for what is now Russell, used until 1845 when the township was officially renamed. In the 1820s and 1830s it was one of the busiest Pacific ports for whalers and traders.

Was Russell the capital of New Zealand?

Briefly, sort of. From May 1840 to March 1841, the capital was at Okiato (just south of modern Russell), called 'Russell' at the time. The capital moved to Auckland in 1841.

Which schools are in zone for Russell?

Children living in Russell 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 Russell?

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.

Russell, Northland | Schools, Lifestyle & Local Guide

Living in Russell

Russell is a small town on the eastern shore of the Bay of Islands, accessible by ferry from Paihia (a 15-minute crossing). Population around 800. Originally Kororāreka, it was the first European settlement in New Zealand on any significant scale, established in the 1820s as a whaling, sealing and supply port.

Kororāreka's early reputation was uncomplicated: pubs, escaped convicts, deserting sailors and the kind of frontier-port lawlessness that earned the town the nickname "hell hole of the Pacific" through the 1830s. The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, signed at nearby Waitangi, formally brought British administration to the area, and the town's character changed quickly.

Christ Church on Robertson Street, built in 1836, is New Zealand's oldest surviving church. Musket-ball holes from the 1845 Flagstaff War are still visible in the weatherboards. Pompallier Mission on the waterfront is one of the country's oldest surviving Roman Catholic mission buildings, with original 1840s industrial machinery on display.

Today Russell is a beautiful tourist town: waterfront restaurants, colonial-era buildings, the Russell Museum, and the kind of slow pace that has people staying for a week. The Paihia ferry runs constantly through the day.

Is Russell a good place to live?

Russell is home to roughly 1,503 people. On Suburb's overall livability scale, Russell scores 62 out of 100, with a safety score of 62/100 and 70% green space.

Schools: Russell has 3 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 $1.13M, and weekly rent typically sits around $330.

Lifestyle: Russell has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. Public transport stops are within easy reach. The current temperature is 10.6°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.

Whether Russell 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

Safety62
Amenities100
Schools39
Housing Affordability33
Green space100
Community56
Transport20

Property & Economics

Est. Median Value: $1.13M
Median Weekly Rent: $330/wk
Median HH Income: $64K/yr
Pop. Growth (5yr): +4.7%
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 Russell?: Russell is a small town on the eastern shore of the Bay of Islands, opposite Paihia. It's reached by ferry from Paihia (15 minutes) or by car around the bay via Opua.
How do I get from Paihia to Russell?: The passenger ferry from Paihia to Russell takes 15 minutes, running constantly through the day. The car ferry from Opua to Okiato (5 km south of Russell) takes 10 minutes and runs frequently.
What was Kororāreka?: Kororāreka was the Māori name for what is now Russell, used until 1845 when the township was officially renamed. In the 1820s and 1830s it was one of the busiest Pacific ports for whalers and traders.
What is Christ Church Russell?: Christ Church on Robertson Street, consecrated in 1836, is New Zealand's oldest surviving church. Musket-ball holes from the 1845 Flagstaff War are still visible in the weatherboards. It remains an active Anglican church.
Was Russell the capital of New Zealand?: Briefly, sort of. From May 1840 to March 1841, the capital was at Okiato (just south of modern Russell), called 'Russell' at the time. The capital moved to Auckland in 1841.

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Russell

Schools in zone for Russell

Children living in Russell 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 Russell. 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 Russell that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).

Russell School (Bay Of Islands)
Full Primary · roll 67 · decile 5 · 1.1 km away
Paihia School
Full Primary · roll 148 · decile 2 · 4.7 km away

Explore Russell

Things to do(4)

Kauri grove

Pompallier French Catholic Mission

WAHOO Sports Fishing

Russell Bowling Club

Parks & green spaces

Parks and reserves for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.

Healthcare(1)

Month	High (°C)	Low (°C)	Rainfall (mm/day)	Sunshine (hrs/day)
☀️ Jan	23.41	16.97	4.44	10.73
☀️ Feb	23.52	16.9	4.34	10.27
🍂 Mar	22.43	14.67	1.64	10.23
🍂 Apr	20.42	14.28	4.31	8.37
🍂 May	17.91	11.83	4.26	7.97
❄️ Jun	16.1	10	4.46	6.78
❄️ Jul	15.48	9.23	5.56	7.11
❄️ Aug	15.46	8.39	4.05	7.8
🌸 Sep	16.98	9.72	3.76	9.13
🌸 Oct	17.89	10.97	4.03	10.29
🌸 Nov	20.01	12.35	4.1	11.01
☀️ Dec	22.51	15.16	3.41	10.77

Living in Russell

Is Russell a good place to live?

Map

Livability Breakdown

Property & Economics

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Russell

Schools in zone for Russell

Bay of Islands College

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Other nearby schools

Russell School (Bay Of Islands)

Paihia School

Explore Russell

🎯Things to do(4)

Kauri grove

Pompallier French Catholic Mission

WAHOO Sports Fishing

Russell Bowling Club

🌳Parks & green spaces

🏥Healthcare(1)

Russell Medical Centre

Eat & Drink in Russell

🍽️Places to eat & drink(37)

Nauti Penguin

The Gables Osteria & Enoteca

Diggers

The York Street Cafe

Hōne's Garden

Swordfish Club

Tuk Tuk Bangkok Thai

Butterfish

The French Coffee House

Greens

Hell Hole

Seaside

Island Girl

Hank's Sushi

Island Girl Sushi/Salad Bar

The Curious Kiwi Cafe - Russell Orongo Bay

Bay of Islands Swordfish Club

Tuk Tuk Bangkok Thai Restaurant

Hell Hole Cafe Bagelry

Butterfish

Sally's Restaurant and Cafe

Sage Restaurant

Tohorā Coffee Co

The Grazing Table

Greens Russell

Hell Hole

Russell Fish Co

Diggers Restaurant

The Duke of Marlborough Tavern

Russell

Newport Chocolates

Kororāreka Russell RSA

Nauti Penguin

Hone's Garden

Oso

Jiffy Turkish Kebab & Salad Bar

Russell RSA

Tradies & Services in Russell

🔧Tradies & services(6)

Ben Sparky

Epic Services

Hatchard Builders Ltd

Heaven NZ

Russell Orongo Bay Auto Repairs

WorkSmart Property Care

Shops in Russell

🛍️Shops(7)

Four Square Russell

Hammer Hardware

Russell Fresh

Russell Hammer Hardware

Tessa's swimwear & fashion from Russell NZ

Thirsty Liquor Russell

Things to do(4)

Parks & green spaces

Healthcare(1)

Places to eat & drink(37)

Tradies & services(6)

Shops(7)

Beauty & fitness(4)

Professional services(1)

Places to stay(29)

Things to do(4)