Oneura Bay on Urupukapuka Island is known locally as Paradise Bay, and it’s easy to understand why. Sheltered on three sides by the island, the soft, sandy bottom slopes gently to a golden beach under the green hills of the island. The waters are calm, the views are scenic, and life is good.
Ashore, the island is criss-crossed with walking tracks. One bay to the south, a few tour boats deposit walkers that make the trip from the small towns of Russell or Paihia. Perhaps daunted by the small but steep hills, few of the hikers seem to venture out of the valley close to the dock. It’s perfect, as it feels like we have the rest of the island to ourselves, aside from the scores of grazing sheep and numerous pukeko birds.
Urupukapuka translates from Maori as “island with many puka trees“, and much of the island is covered in greenery. But there are also broad meadows that afford a view of the broad expanse of the Bay of Islands.
With temperatures in the mid-70s/~24C and bright sunny skies, it’s hard to imagine a more apt place to be named Paradise Bay.
