Russell was a very good starting point for the Bay of Islands. We especially liked the pool, where you could relax in the evening after having cruised around the sea with the kayaks (included) during the day.
Except for the grill, everything was also clean.
With the hosts we have virtually not talked, except a fleeting "all good?" in passing. But there were incredibly friendly ladies in the neighborhood who gave us tips about swimming at the beach between the rocks and watching kiwis.