The water track
Island-hopping the sanctuary islands
Of the 144 islands scattered across the bay, a handful are genuinely set up for visitors — walking tracks, beaches, and in several cases, an active conservation project you can see the results of on foot.
Urupukapuka: the largest, and the easiest
Urupukapuka is the largest island in the Bay of Islands and generally the most accessible — regular water-taxi runs, several beaches, and walking tracks across the island's headlands. It's a realistic half-day or full-day trip on its own.
Project Island Song
Moturua, Motukiekie, Okahu, Urupukapuka and Poroporo islands are part of Project Island Song, a volunteer-driven pest-eradication programme that's turned this cluster into a pest-free sanctuary. The practical result for visitors: real native birdlife you can actually hear and see on a short walk, not just a conservation pamphlet.
Getting between islands
Water taxis run scheduled or on-demand services from Paihia and Russell to the main islands — check current timetables before committing to a same-day return, since the last run back is earlier than you'd expect. Kayaking is realistic for the closer islands in calm weather; the outer islands are a motorised-transport trip, not a paddle.