The Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival is one of New Zealand's most atmospheric music events, held each August across the beautiful towns of Paihia and Russell in the Bay of Islands. Over a long winter weekend, world-class jazz and blues musicians perform in venues that range from waterfront bars and restaurants to open-air stages, creating a festival atmosphere that perfectly suits the intimate scale of these historic Northland towns and the particular beauty of the Bay of Islands in winter.

The festival has built a devoted following over many years, attracting musicians from New Zealand, Australia and further afield alongside audiences who combine the music with the extraordinary natural environment of Te Tai Tokerau Northland. The ferry crossing between Paihia and Russell — one of the oldest ferry routes in New Zealand — becomes a musical route during festival weekend, with performances happening on both sides of the bay and boats carrying jazz lovers between the two.

For music lovers looking for a festival experience that combines great music with a genuinely beautiful setting, the Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival is hard to beat. August in Northland brings crisp, clear winter days that make the bay look its most dramatic, and the combination of excellent music, good food and wine and the warmth of small-town hospitality creates a weekend that lingers in the memory long after the last note fades.