I didn’t know much about Russell when I booked the trip.
It popped up during a late-night search for quiet spots in the Bay of Islands. A few photos, a good-looking stay, a gut feeling. That was enough.

I wasn’t after an itinerary. I was after a pause — somewhere that would let me breathe for a few days without asking anything of me.

Russell turned out to be exactly that.

First Impressions

The ferry ride from Paihia set the tone. Calm water. Crisp air. The gentle arrival of somewhere you haven’t been but already feel connected to.

When I stepped off the boat, Russell greeted me like an old friend — charming but understated. Old villas. Pohutukawa trees. Locals who smile at strangers without a second thought.

It wasn’t trying to impress. That’s what impressed me.

The Place I Stayed

I’d booked through a site that listed a range of Russell accommodation options. I wanted something self-contained and peaceful. What I got was a warm timber cottage with a sun-drenched deck, views across the harbour, and the kind of quiet you can feel in your bones.

There was no need for a car. Everything unfolded on foot. Coffee at the local bakery. An afternoon down at Long Beach. Dinner at the pub where everyone seemed to know each other, but didn’t mind that I was new.

More Than a Holiday

One morning, I sat on the deck with my second cup of tea and realised something had shifted. The kind of shift you don’t notice in the moment, but one you carry home.

I’d arrived tired and mentally cluttered.
I left slower. Softer. Lighter.

Russell did that.

If you’re looking for a place that doesn’t shout but speaks straight to the soul, start here:
👉 Russell accommodation

Go with no plan. Let the town do the rest.