Which boat is the Russell ferry? From Paihia Wharf there are two. Northland Ferries runs a summer timetable from 25 September to 9 May, with the first boat leaving Russell at 07:00 and the last leaving Paihia at 22:30; The Blue Ferry, a small local operator, adds hourly sailings through the middle of the day. Both sell tickets at the boat, and the crossing takes about 15 minutes.
Northland Ferries summer season, 25 September 2026 to 9 May 2027; The Blue Ferry publishes no dates; checked 9 October 2026 Northland Ferries – Bay of Islands passenger ferry timetable · 2026-10-09
Why two ferries on a 15-minute crossing? Because the route carries both locals and a steady stream of visitors. Northland Ferries, which also runs the Opua–Okiato car ferry, keeps the long day: from Russell the first boat leaves at 07:00 and the last at 22:00; from Paihia they run from 07:20 to 22:30. The Blue Ferry, which describes itself as locally owned and operated, adds a boat each hour between 09:40 and 17:10.
When does the long timetable apply? Northland Ferries calls it the summer season, from 25 September to 9 May, so it covers the whole of the coming summer. Its winter timetable is not shown on its page at the moment.
How much will it cost? A return is $19.40 for an adult with Northland Ferries and $20 with The Blue Ferry, both paid on the day at the boat.
Northland Ferries sells returns for people and one-way tickets for bicycles, all on board, with cash, EFTPOS or credit card. Groups of more than ten should contact the company first. Residents of the Russell peninsula postcodes and regular travellers can apply for a stored-value card that carries a discount; the card is scanned on board and topped up online or on the ferry.
The Blue Ferry charges $20 for an adult return and $42 for a family ticket for a couple travelling with up to three children, paid at the boat. Its page lists a child return at $10 but also says children travel free when tickets are bought at the boat, so we have not put a child fare for it in the table: ask the crew.
| Adult, return | $ 19.40 |
| Child 5–14, return | $ 10.80 |
| Family (2 adults, 3 children), return | $ 42.80 |
| Bicycle, one way | $ 5.90 |
| Adult, return | $ 20 |
| Family pass (2 adults, up to 3 children) | $ 42 |
Northland Ferries passenger fares read 9 October 2026; The Blue Ferry's fares read the same day Northland Ferries – Passenger ferry prices · 2026-10-09
The ferries cross the inner Bay of Islands from Paihia's waterfront to Russell, the town historically called Kororāreka, on the far shore. Some Northland Ferries sailings from Russell call at Waitangi on request. Drivers have a separate option further south: Northland Ferries' vehicle ferry between Opua and Okiato shuttles across roughly every ten minutes from early morning to about 10pm, and Okiato is a ten-minute drive from Russell.
Both operators sail from Paihia Wharf on Marsden Road, the town's waterfront, where the Bay of Islands cruise and island boats also tie up. Look for the Northland Ferries or Blue Ferry boat and pay on board or at the gangway: cash, EFTPOS and credit cards are accepted by Northland Ferries, and The Blue Ferry sells its tickets at the boat too.
Russell's wharf is on The Strand, the waterfront of the old town of Kororāreka; Pompallier, Christ Church and Long Beach are the places The Blue Ferry suggests for a visit. Two of Northland Ferries' daily departures from here, at 10:00 and 15:00, will stop at Waitangi on request.
Neither operator asks individual travellers to book. Buy your ticket at the boat; Northland Ferries asks groups of more than ten to get in touch first.
Northland Ferries charges $5.90 per bike each way.
Guide and certified assistance dogs are always welcome. Other animals may travel on the passenger ferry if the skipper agrees, on a lead or in a carrier.
Ask the crew if you want to get off at Waitangi; only the 10:00 and 15:00 from Russell offer the stop.
A discounted resident card, carrying your photo, is open to people living in postcode 0200, 0202, 0204, 0272 or 0184. Regular travellers from elsewhere can get a frequent-user card instead; neither costs anything to apply for.
Do the boats go anywhere else? The passenger ferry is strictly Paihia to Russell, with the request stop at Waitangi. Further out, Explore's ferry to Ōtehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island leaves the same Paihia Wharf and calls at Russell on the way, but it is a booked island trip, not a shuttle across the bay.
Who else runs Northland Ferries' boats? The same company sails the Hokianga vehicle ferry at Rāwene on the west coast under contract to the district council. Because the council has its own payment system there, cards bought for the Bay of Islands boats won't work on it.
About 15 minutes each way.
With Northland Ferries, 22:00 during the summer season (25 September to 9 May). The Blue Ferry's last listed departure from Russell is 16:40.
Northland Ferries: $19.40 adult return, $10.80 child return (5–14), $42.80 family return. The Blue Ferry: $20 adult return, $42 family pass.
There is nothing to book for individual travellers: pay at the boat with cash, EFTPOS or a credit card. Northland Ferries wants to hear in advance from groups of more than ten.
Not on the passenger ferry. Use the Opua–Okiato vehicle ferry, about seven minutes' drive from Paihia; passengers in the car ride free.
Yes. Northland Ferries charges $5.90 per bike, one way.
On request, from the 10:00 and 15:00 Northland Ferries sailings from Russell.