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Historic Russell Tour
Select Date and Travelers
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn More
3 Hours 50 Minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Overview
This tour allows visitors to the Bay of Islands to enjoy the key places to visit in Russell, some of which are not accessible on foot.
These include:
Christ Church - New Zealand's oldest church.
Completed in 1836 and was the site of bitter fighting between the native Maori people and the British army.
Flagstaff Hill:
Enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the Bay of Islands from this important historic site - the Union Jack was first flown here in 1840, then chopped down four times up till 1845 as a symbolic gesture against British rule.
Russell Museum:
The Russell Museum shares the stories of Koror?reka Russell.
Pompallier House:
Pompallier House is a nineteenth-century building, New Zealand which once served as the headquarters to the French Catholic mission.
At the end of the tour, customers can choose to have lunch at one of Russell's excellent cafes. We will provide those who do want lunch with a ferry ticket back to Paihia, or they can travel back in the same van.
What's Included
Meeting And Pickup
Start time
10:30 AM
What To Expect
Christ Church
The land for the church was purchased from the local Maori chiefs in 1834 on the understanding both Maori and Europeans would have equal burial rights. The building was completed in January 1836 and sermons were delivered in both Maori and English. The church is New Zealand's oldest and is in use every Sunday. Captain William Hobson used the church in January 1840 to deliver three proclamations (including his appointment as Lieutenant Governor), which led to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi the following month. The church was also involved in the Battle of Kororareka (March 11th, 1845) which pitted British forces and Maori dissatisfied with British rule against each other, the church was hit by stray musket and cannon balls, evidence still visible today. There are a number of headstones in the cemetery, commemorating both British soldiers and Maori Chiefs who took part in the battle
40 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Flagstaff Hill
Our second stop is Flagstaff Hill: Enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the Bay of Islands from this important historic site - the Union Jack was first flown here in 1840, then chopped down four times up till 1845 as a symbolic gesture against British rule.
40 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Russell Museum
The Russell Museum shares the stories of Kororāreka Russell. It tells the stories of the first Polynesian arrivals in the Bay, through to the development of Russell / Kororāreka, from a small Māori fishing village, to a port of call for visiting ships and whalers to today's tourist town. Among the museum collections is Māori taonga including a small waka (canoe), a one-fifth scale model of Captain Cook's Endeavour, an original whaleboat and mementos of game fisherman, Zane Grey. Enjoy watching the DVD of historic Russell and see the exhibitions that are on display in the gallery.
40 Minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Pompallier Mission and Printery
Pompallier House is a nineteenth-century building located in Russell, New Zealand which once served as the headquarters to the French Catholic mission to the Western Pacific. The building housed a printing press to ease the printing of religious literature in the Maori language, and a tannery for the production of leather items. It was a large structure of two storeys with an additional attic floor lit by dormers. Its French identity was proclaimed through its distinctive hipped roof and vernacular construction techniques that included a rammed earth (or 'pise de terre') lower storey and timber-framed ('pan de bois') upper floor with earth panels.
40 Minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operated by Mullarkey Tours Limited
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
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