THE BAY OF ISLANDS
Your Destination Wedding: Where history and breathtaking scenery Collide
Always dreamed of having your wedding on the coast or hosting the ultimate destination wedding in NZ? You’ve come to the right place.
Baylys’ Farm is located right in the heart of the tropical Bay of Islands, which is the tourist hub for a region famous for its breathtaking scenery and historical landmarks.
Not only is it easy to travel to the Bay of Islands, your guests will also be treated to all that the region has to offer when they arrive. Including an abundance of accommodation options, restaurants, gorgeous beaches and fun activities.
Hosting a destination wedding allows you and your guests to switch off for a few days and relax into the celebrations - it’ll be the break away everyone has been waiting for.
“Just attended my friend’s wedding and all I can say is wow! What a beautiful location and set up. Such a great weekend in Paihia, we loved it.”
Arrive for Your Destination Wedding
The Bay of Islands is located just three hours drive or a 40-minute flight north of Auckland making it a very accessible and convenient region for wedding guests arriving from Auckland, other parts of New Zealand and internationally.
DriveThe region is well-connected to Auckland via an easy drive all the way up SH1. The recent highway extension up to Warkworth has made the journey even smoother, and traveling by car gives you freedom to explore the region once you arrive. Most accommodation providers have free off-street parking available.
If you have time we recommend using the trip to explore some of the great spots along the way, including famous Northland beaches, restaurants and activities.
FlyThere is also the option to fly up to the Bay of Islands Airport from Auckland, which is a quick 40-minute flight with Air New Zealand.
The Bay of Islands Airport is located 20-minutes drive from Paihia, and there are transfer and rental options available at the airport upon your arrival.
Weather
Often referred to as the Winterless North, the Bay of Islands benefits from being located at the north of New Zealand and therefore getting mild temperatures year round due to its subtropical climate.
Each season offers something slightly different in terms of the weather. We host weddings between Spring and Autumn each year (Oct - April). Ask about our destination wedding packages.
SpringSpring consists of September, October and November. The days start to get warmer, with average highs of around 19°C, and with the sun setting around 8pm it’s the perfect time of the year if you’d like to enjoy long daylight hours outside.
SummerSummer kicks off across December, January and February, but with average temperatures around 25°C the climate rarely gets too extreme during this season. Here you’ll enjoy long days and have a good chance of summer sunshine.
Autumn One of our favourite seasons, Autumn consists of March, April and May. Temperatures drop back to around 21°C, but the days are still nice and warm across this period. Sunsets in Autumn are always an absolute stand-out as well.
Explore the bay of islands
Culture
Water
Activities
Land
Activities
Walking +
Cycling
Dining +
drinks
Accommodation near our Destination Wedding Venue
Although we do not have any accommodation on the farm we are only a short drive from Paihia, where there is a huge selection of accommodation options at different price points.
Couples will often book a holiday home or apartment for their families and wedding party, and guests tend to book themselves into one of the many resorts, hotels, motels and campgrounds. Scroll through some options below:
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![Bay of Islands Holiday Home]()
Holiday Homes
• Bayswater
• SeaBeds
• Rusty Ram (Pictured)
• Paihia Waterfront Lodge
• Waitangi River Lodge
• Northbase
• BOI Beach Houses -
![Paihia Beach Resort]()
Hotels
• Copthorne Resort
• Scenic Hotel
• Paihia Resort and Spa (Pictured) -
![Breakwater Motel Paihia]()
Motels
• Breakwater Motel
• Kingsgate Motel
• Gateway Motel -
![Apartment Bay of Islands]()
Apartments
• Blue Pacific Apartments
• Hilton Waterfront Suites
• Edgewater Apartments
• Sunrise Apartments
• Sea Spray Apartments
• Chalet Romantica
• Marina Cove
• Pioneer Waterfront Apartments -
![Waitangi Campground Bay of Islands]()
Campgrounds
• Waitangi Holiday Park (Pictured)
• Paihia Top 10 Holiday Park
• Bay of Islands Holiday Park
Experiences for everyone
We have a huge array of local activity options to keep everyone entertained before and after your wedding. The best way to explore the region is by boat, whether that is a charter out to islands or taking the passenger ferry over to New Zealand’s first capital, Russell.
The region is also known for its golf courses, walking tracks, vineyards, mountain biking tracks, cultural landmarks and much more.
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• Island Tours
• Diving
• Fishing Charters
• Sailing Charters
• Kayaking
• Swimming at Paihia Beach
• Passenger Ferry to Russell
• Parasailing -
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds
• Pompallier Mission House
• The Stone Store -
The Gables, Russell
The Gables, Russell
Dining & Drinks
Keen to keep the celebrations going? We have lots of great local restaurants, cafes and bars who would happily host your pre-wedding welcome drinks or post-wedding goodbye brunch.
Whether this is close to home in Paihia, or a short ferry ride over the water to Russell, the Bay of Islands has some amazing restaurant and bar options for you and your guests to enjoy. Scroll through some of our local favourites below:
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![JFC Restaurant Paihia Bay of Islands]()
JFC, Paihia
Fish and Chips, elevated. JFC is located across from Paihia Beach, making it a perfect oceanfront spot for a casual meal or pre / post wedding event.
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![Charlotte's Kitchen Restaurant Paihia]()
Charlotte's Kitchen, Paihia
Located on the Paihia Pier, Charlotte’s Kitchen offers laid-back bistro food served with alongside a delicious cocktail menu - perfect for boat watching!
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![Third Wheel Cafe Paihia]()
Third Wheel Cafe, Paihia
Home to the best coffee and cafe food in the bay, Third Wheel is a must visit spot. Perfect for a much needed caffeine fix the morning after your wedding!
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![The Dock at Zane Greys Paihia]()
The Dock at Zane Greys, Paihia
Loungers dotted along a dock above the water, need we say more! The Dock at Zane Grey’s is a great spot for wedding weekend welcome drinks, offering a range of easy finger food and drink for everyone to enjoy.
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![Terra Restaurant Paihia]()
Terra, Paihia
The Bay of Islands answer to fine dining, Terra is not to be missed. Choose from their degustation or à la carte menus for an unforgettable meal. Perfect for a celebration or treat!
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![Tipsy Oyster Bar Paihia]()
Tipsy Oyster, Paihia
Cocktails are the winner at Paihia’s famous bar, The Tipsy Oyster. Located on the waterfront the vibes are always high with live music, delicious tapas and burgers and a huge drinks menu on offer.
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![Phat House Brewery Paihia]()
Phat House Brewery, Paihia
Based up in Haruru, this spot is home to the Bay of Islands’ popular Phat House Beer. They have a huge selection of beers on tap, all brewed out the back, served alongside wood fired pizzas.
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![The Gables Russell]()
The Gables, Russell
The Gables has recently been revamped into an Italian Enoteca, serving the most delicious Italian menu and complimentary drinks. Waterfront wine and pasta, need we say more!
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![Hone's Garden Pizza Bar]()
Hone's Garden, Russell
Hone’s Garden is a Bay of Islands hot spot serving woodfired pizzas in a casual garden setting. This is a fun location for a casual meal especially on a warm summer day.
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![The Duke of Marlborough Pub]()
The Duke of Marlborough, Russell
This spot needs no introduction. As New Zealand’s oldest pub, The Duke of Marlborough is a timeless institution not to be missed. Breakfast, lunch and dinner options are available, but we highly recommend booking ahead.
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![Omata Estate Vineyard]()
Omata Estate, Russell
Hop into Omata Estate for a wine tasting, or sit back, relax and enjoy the harbour views over a platter or pizza. Open for lunch only so we recommend booking ahead in summer.
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![Sage Restaurant Meal]()
Sage Restaurant, Russell
Located in Paroa Bay, Sage Restaurant is one of our favourite spots for a long lunch or dinner. Outstanding food and views make for a great dining experience.
