Russell — Kororāreka, meaning “sweet blue penguin” — was the first permanent European settlement and seaport in New Zealand. The seaside village retains its 1843 street plan and historic buildings, offering a rare glimpse into the country’s early colonial past. Once known as a lively — or more accurately, chaotic and rowdy — whaling port in the 1830s, dubbed the ‘Hell Hole of the Pacific,’ it has since transformed into a peaceful harbour town rich in history, character, and charm.