Looked around downtown Russell. It didn't take long as the place is quite small. A pleasing variety of friendly, independent shops, an old church with some interesting gravestones, a pub, several cafes and restaurants and a very attractive waterfront.
We were aware when planning our trip of the hole in ozone layer over NZ. After only a few days in the country I have indeed found the sun to be very harsh on my skin. Even with factor 50 sun cream on I am still getting singed. Spotted a broad brimmed hat in a shop in Russell and, after getting the thumbs up for fashionability from Hilary and Gill, bought it.
We discovered the excellent Sally's Cafe and enjoyed a flat white and cake there whilst taking in the great views across the Bay of Islands. This could become a calorie rich habit!
From the jetty we took a boat across to the larger resort of Paihia. Looked around some of the shops and an outdoors arts and crafts market. Then walked along the shoreline to Waitangi to see one of NZ's historic sites: the place where the treaty between the many Maori tribes and the British was signed in 1840 and which thereby created the state of NZ, under British sovereignty. In the grounds we saw the house in which the treaty was drafted, the flagstaff, a beautiful Maori meeting house and a very impressive, 35 metre long, Maori waka (war canoe).