Paihia is a good base for exploring the Bay of Islands. Photo: Jane Blair

The name says it all, really - some 150 largely untouched islands floating in a crystalline bay.

Located in the North Island's Northland region, the Bay of Islands is one of New Zealand's prime tourist attractions.

It also played a pivotal role in history. It was the location for New Zealand's first English settlement and it was also here in 1840 that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, establishing the template for all Maori-Pakeha political relations thereafter.

The mainland towns of Paihia, Kerikeri and Russell make good bases for sailing out to the islands.