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After an enjoyable few days in the Bay of Islands Marina at Opua it was time to explore the Bay of Islands.  We were nicely rested, with the laundry and re-provisioning all sorted – having taken our trundler (shopping trolley) around the supermarket and buying a chip (punnet) of strawberries…  Finally, armed with our new pilot books of the area, we were ready to head off.

Our first stop was a mere stone’s throw, away where we anchored off the Russell Yacht Club.

At the turn of the 19^th century Russell, then known as Kororareka, served as a shore station for whalers, but was re-named in 1844 in honour of the British colonial secretary of the day.  Today the quiet town is involved in tourism, fishing and oyster farming.

Russell Yacht Club:

The waterfront at Russell:

Christ Church, the oldest church in New Zealand:

The Pompallier Mission which houses the Marist mission’s Gaveaux printing press.  The tanning, printing and bookbinding tools and equipment have been recreated and are working again: