Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Paihia?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Paihia?

Most people spend at least 3 or as many as 5 days in Paihia during their visit. The relaxing coastal town offers amazing highlights such as the beaches, scuba diving and snorkeling, the hiking, and the cuisine.

Paihia is one of the main resort towns in the Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand. It offers access to diving and snorkeling. There are also hiking trails as well as opportunities to learn about the Maori culture.

Do you have one or two days to visit Paihia? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Paihia?

As a popular and famous coastal town, Paihia offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. Given only one day, you will likely be rushed to swim at the beach, snorkel or scuba dive, go hiking, and dine out at amazing restaurants. To truly savor all that the coastal town offers along with the beach, a more generous amount of time is usually needed. Many travelers opt for three to five days to relax and explore here. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend a day in Paihia

The beautiful beaches await you in Paihia, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. There are stunning beaches both in Paihia and throughout the Bay of Islands. Paihia Beach is in town. It's small but nice and makes a great picnic spot. For a more secluded spot head to Matauri Bay Beach or Takou Bay.

A few tour suggestions include:

Island Hopper Day Cruise - sailing to wildlife sanctuary island - 6 hr cruise ($125)
Sundowner Evening Cruise - 2 hour evening sailing cruise with swim stop ($57)
Day Cruise & Island Tour - Snorkel/Wildlife/Paddleboard/Islands ($80)

The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. Local seafood, regional produce, and fresh ingredients make dining in the area a rewarding experience. You'll find fine dining restaurants, pizzerias, and local cafes to choose from.

A few tour suggestions include:

Private Modern Vegetarian Cooking Class with Anna in Northland ($195)

The public transit in Paihia is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the coastal town quite easily and affordably. There are ferries and some intercity buses through the Bay of Islands.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Paihia?

With only a weekend, you might feel a bit pressed for time to enjoy the beach and the other activities in this coastal town. After all, Paihia offers plenty of activities and attractions and remains a top choice for tourists. To fully embrace Paihia, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate three to five days to swim at the beach, snorkel or scuba dive, go hiking, and dine out at amazing restaurants. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.

The beach near Paihia, New Zealand

How to spend 2 days in Paihia

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Paihia will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the coastal town.

Don't miss the Waitangi Treaty Grounds during your trip to Paihia, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. As a holiday spot, there are a number of clubs and bars that cater to tourists in the area.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Paihia, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.