The Rainbow Warrior was a Greenpeace boat sunk by French secret service agents on 7 July 1985 in Auckland. It was re-floated and then scuttled two years later near the Bay of Islands as an artificial reef. Paihia Dive teach the PADI wreck course using the wreck.
The Waitangi National Trust Treaty Grounds give a unique and fascinating insight into New Zealand's historic past. The Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's most significant document, was first signed here in 1840 between Maori chiefs and the British Crown, and became the basis for modern New Zealand. The grounds are home to the Treaty House, built in 1834, a fully carved Maori meeting house, a large Maori war canoe, a Visitor Centre and Gallery, and a museum that opened in 2016. The grounds were gifted to the nation by Lord and Lady Bledisloe in 1932. You can take a guided tour and/or see a Maori cultural performance, in addition to admission. The website suggests allowing at least 3 hr. Has cafes.
Bayscapes, Paihia. Sailing charters aboard a 40ft catamaran in the Bay of Islands. Offers both shared charters and private charters for groups of up to 19, with stops at islands for swimming and snorkelling. Lunch included.