A region
Northland and the Bay of Islands
Three hours north of Auckland, and almost nobody goes past Paihia.
The far north is where New Zealand's written history starts and where its subtropical weather ends up. It is also, on a Tuesday in April, close to empty.
Two coasts, and they are nothing like each other. The east is islands, sheltered water and boats. The west is kauri forest, the Hokianga and a harbour bar you would not want to cross.
Cape Reinga is worth the drive if you do it at the right hour. Everyone arrives between eleven and two. We do not.
When to come
- November to March
- Warm water, long light, and the busiest it gets, which is not very
- April to May
- The best weather-to-crowd ratio in the country
- June to August
- Green, wet and dramatic. The forest is at its best
- September to October
- Kōwhai out, whales moving, and the roads to yourself
Where we stop
- Matakana
- Whangārei Falls
- Paihia and the Bay
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Cape Reinga
- Ninety Mile Beach
- Hokianga Harbour
- Waipoua Forest
- Kauri Museum
Getting around
The Waipoua boardwalk is step-free to the main viewing platform. Cape Reinga is a 900 m sealed path with a gradient both ways. Most of the rest is roadside or short.
Want to see it?
Tell me roughly when and how you like to move, and I will put a route together.
Start the conversation