Russell

We visited Russell in 2008, stayed overnight, did a sailboat cruise on the Bay of Islands, had a memorable meal, and really liked the place. It is the oldest European settlement in New Zealand, dating to the whaling ships of the early 19th century when Russell was the "hell-hole of the South Pacific." It's rather sedate and respectable now, classy and scenic. We took the ferry over and drove to a few of the major viewpoints to confirm our recollections.