Russell – Orongo Bay Holiday Park and Bike Hire

Set amongst 14 acres of native New Zealand bush and only minutes away from the start of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail and the centre of Russell. See and hear the North Island Kiwi, rare Pāteke and Weka, (as filmed by the BBC).  Campsites and accommodation to suit all budgets and group sizes.  Swimming Pool, BBQs, Fire Pit, Wood Fired Pizza Oven. Bike hire  available. Make memories as nature intended.

Picturesque, award-winning, Enviro Gold (only one in Northland) 4 star Holiday Park with affordable accommodation and abundant bird life, including kiwis. Conveniently located near the start of the cycle trail in Opua.

Central Base to explore the Bay of Islands, bike hire and storage, close encounters with amazing bird life and Kiwi, accommodation to suit all budgets. Spacious powered/unpowered sites. Self-contained bungalows and cabins all with decks to enjoy relaxed indoor/outdoor living in our sunny climate. Comfortable specialised cycle trail bikes with helmets and padlocks for hire, bikes serviced before each hireage, bike shuttle, secure bike storage, minor bike repairs. Enjoy day rides from Russell on our comfortable specialized brand road bikes. Options include the scenic.

Twin Coast Cycle Trail a ride to a local winery or a bike ride to Waitangi Treaty grounds which includes a passenger ferry trip! We offer discounted rates for guests. *Helmets and bike locks are both included. Sizes include; Small female and male, Medium female and male, Large female and male.

Nature

The grounds are vast and birders have identified 55 different species of birds on site, some rare.  Pateke ducks, Fern birds and North Island Weka just to name the rare ones.  The birders held a workshop here last year where they mist netted and banded the birdlife.  Prior to this the BBC came to film a documentary about the NZ Birdlife and filmed the Weka onsite at the Park.

A highlight for most guests is the ability to go searching for the kiwi at the back of the park along the kiwi trail.  We have had many sightings of kiwi on site and if you don’t get to see one you hear them nightly and we play the sound of the kiwi at the office when people arrive so they know what to listen out for.

We purposefully keep the lighting low around the Park so you can experience the amazing starry sky on a clear night.  Some of our guests have never seen so many stars in the sky and I have to admit it is still magical to me!

Our guests love the free range chickens, the ducks with their ducklings, the weka popping their heads around tents looking for food and our Weta hotel.

Nature is our primary focus, promoting the health benefits to the adults, away from the stresses of life as well as providing the opportunity for their kids to play in nature, climb trees, safely explore the Bush, fish in the stream, etc,  just as we used to when we were kids.

Maori Cross Cultural Education
Howard is our on site Maori cultural advisor,who facilitates ‘Te Whare’ stays for groups.  Our Kautatua facilitates the learning of Maori cultures and values in the Marae, in the forest and on the sea. Over a 3 night stay groups get to explore cross cultural education in a fun and supportive environment.
A recent Auckland group built their own Whare from bamboo at the rear of the Park and took part in a Maori fire ceremony around our camp fire where they learnt the Maori origins of fire as well as a deeper understanding of some Maori customs and many stories linked with Russell.
A recent  group built their own whare from bamboo at the rear of the Park and took part in a Maori fire ceremony around our camp fire where they learnt the Maori origins of fire as well as a deeper understanding of some Maori customs and many stories linked with Russell.

Howard loves to mingle with the guests, telling stories, teaching our guests how to weave flax, telling people the ‘secret’ spots in the area for fishing, diving for crayfish, and pipi hunting.   Showing the guests how to gut and smoke fish and offering really memorable experiences to both young and old.

Group Accommodation through to Self Contained

We have the ability to host large groups with our lodge facility, this can be booked out in its entirety for larger groups, including a spacious lounge, featuring a fireplace for those cooler evenings, dining, and kitchen area and shared bathrooms.  We have many groups that use the individual lodge rooms from School groups to fishing groups, to Rugby groups and even a regular group of Nuns. They also book out quickly to families over the summer period.

We have a huge range of other accommodation options too, from budget to fully self contained, from glamping or a tipi through to 3 bedroom self contained accommodation, including the original swordfish clubhouse which was relocated to the Park.

Cafe and Shop

Our shop is very well stocked with lots of basics, drinks, snacks, ice creams and free range eggs from our own hens.

We also now have a food trailer cafe on site so guests and visitors can grab a snack or a meal at our Curious Kiwi Cafe.  This also means we have the ability to cater fully for groups.

We are at the centre of the Bay of Islands so the perfect place to base yourselves whilst exploring the area.

 

 

Where to find us

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