The Russell boat ramp is located on The Strand in the historic Bay of Islands township of Russell, operated by the Far North District Council.

It provides access to the sheltered waters of the bay and is considered usable in most conditions, with the exception of severe south-westerly winds.

The ramp also serves as the starting point for the popular Flagstaff Hill Walk (Maiki Hill), a roughly 15-minute climb to a summit of significant historical importance — the site where Ngāpuhi chief Hōne Heke repeatedly felled the British flagstaff in the 1840s.

From the top, viewing platforms offer panoramic views over the bay and surrounding landscape.