What's on in Paihia, New Zealand through the year

Peak crowds — Bay of Islands Sailing Week, New Zealand summer holidays

• Festival

  Bay of Islands Sailing Week

  20–31 Jan · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  A keelboat regatta out of Opua at the end of January, when the summer breeze is reliable and every mooring in the bay is taken. The parties ashore are half the entry list's reason for coming. Source ↗

Still on: Game fishing season (15 Dec – 15 May (usually)), New Zealand summer holidays (20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually))

Peak crowds — Waitangi Day, New Zealand summer holidays

• Holiday

  Waitangi Day

  3–7 FebNational holidayCrowded

  The national day is commemorated at the treaty grounds up the road, with the dawn service, waka on the water and a few days of politics and speeches. The town is full and so are the roads in. Source ↗

Still on: Game fishing season (15 Dec – 15 May (usually)), New Zealand summer holidays (20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Game fishing season (15 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — Term 1 (April / Easter) break in New Zealand, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Game fishing season (15 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Game fishing season (15 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Quiet, wet winter

  1 Jun – 31 AugOff-season shutdownClosures

  Winter in the Bay is mild and wet, the cruise ships stop coming and a good share of the waterfront operators shorten their hours. The islands are yours, on the days it is not blowing.

Busy — Term 2 (July) break in New Zealand, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Quiet, wet winter (1 Jun – 31 Aug)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Quiet, wet winter (1 Jun – 31 Aug)

Busy — Term 3 (Sept/Oct) break in New Zealand, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Busy — Term 3 (Sept/Oct) break in New Zealand, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Peak crowds — New Zealand summer holidays, Summer holidays in New Zealand

• Season

  Game fishing season

  15 Dec – 15 May · usuallyBook early

  Striped marlin are off the coast from about December to May, best from February to April, and the game boats and their tower spotters are the reason the Opua wharf looks the way it does.

• Holiday

  New Zealand summer holidays

  20 Dec – 1 Feb · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  Auckland comes north for three hours and stays for a fortnight, so the motels double their rates and the ferry to Russell queues. Book the boat trips before you arrive. Source ↗