Hole in the Rock Cruise & Tour of Russell

About Hole in the Rock Cruise & Tour of Russell

Morning light glitters across the Bay of Islands as the vessel passes green headlands, secluded bays and seabirds circling above the water. Beyond Cape Brett, Motukōkako Island rises from the sea, its great rock face pierced by the famous Hole in the Rock, while every movement offshore brings the possibility of dolphins or whales. Back on land, Russell’s historic buildings, waterfront streets and hillside views invite you to discover the stories woven through this peaceful seaside town.

The Story of This Place

Motukōkako, the Hole in the Rock, has long stood as a distinctive landmark at the outer edge of the Bay of Islands, its natural opening shaped by the relentless movement of the sea. Across the bay, Russell / Kororāreka grew into New Zealand’s first seaport and one of its earliest European settlements. During the nineteenth century, whalers, traders, sailors, deserters and escaped convicts turned the small town into a lively and lawless port that became known as the “Hell Hole of the Pacific”.

Cultural Significance

The Bay of Islands / Īpipiri has been home to Māori communities for generations and later became the setting for some of New Zealand’s earliest sustained encounters between Māori and Europeans. Kororāreka was one of the first places where Māori and European sailors met, traded and formed lasting connections, shaping the town’s cultural identity long before it became known as Russell. The cruise and guided town tour reveal how these intertwined histories continue to define the Bay of Islands today.

Motukōkako takes its name from the kōkako birds once placed on the island so chiefs could gather their feathers. Kororāreka, the original Māori name for Russell, means “sweet penguin” and comes from the story of a sick chief who tasted soup made from a little blue penguin and declared how sweet it was.

The Experience of Visiting

The experience begins with a cruise through the island-studded waters of the Bay of Islands and along the rugged Cape Brett Peninsula. Pass the historic Cape Brett lighthouse before arriving at Motukōkako, where the skipper may take the vessel underneath the Hole in the Rock for the chance of a lucky drip from above. Keep watch for dolphins, whales, seabirds and other marine life before stopping at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island to purchase lunch, swim or enjoy a leisurely walk. Back in Russell, a local guide reveals the town’s colourful past, significant historic buildings and sweeping views from Flagstaff Hill.

Natural Features

The Bay of Islands encompasses 144 islands, with sheltered bays, sandy beaches and green headlands giving way to the more exposed waters and rugged cliffs around Cape Brett and Motukōkako. Dolphins, whales, penguins, gannets and other marine and birdlife inhabit the surrounding waters. Otehei Bay offers a sheltered island beach, while Russell’s calm waterfront and the elevated views from Flagstaff Hill reveal the gentler, landward side of the bay.

Stories Shared Along the Way

The cruise crew share informative and entertaining commentary as guests travel through the islands, explaining the landmarks, wildlife and history encountered along the way. In Russell, a local guide adds historical knowledge and local insight, bringing to life the people and events behind the town’s transition from a lively trading port to the peaceful seaside village visitors see today.

Little-Known Facts

Russell’s peaceful streets still follow their original layout and retain names dating from 1843, preserving a link to the town’s earliest colonial years. Christ Church also bears musket-ball holes from nineteenth-century conflict, an unexpected trace of history within New Zealand’s oldest surviving church.

Russell is often described as New Zealand’s first capital, but the capital was actually established at nearby Okiato, also known as Old Russell. Present-day Russell / Kororāreka was New Zealand’s first seaport and one of its earliest European settlements.