Northland Travel Guide

When it’s time to discover the rest of New Zealand, many visitors head over the harbour bridge to Northland and the Bay of Islands, an historical and big game fishing centre.

Whangarei, sometimes described as the gateway to Northland, faces a picturesque, extensive harbour. There are many bushwalks and at the A.H. Reed Memorial Park, several fine stands of kauri, some up to 500 years old. Whangarei Falls, dropping 25 metres into a bush clad pool, makes an ideal picnic spot. The numerous viewing platforms provide excellent photo opportunities.

Russell in the Bay of Islands was New Zealand’s first capital and many of its Victorian buildings have been well preserved. Christ Church built in 1836 is the country’s oldest surviving church, Pompalier House was built in 1842 from mud and clay for use as a Roman Catholic mission and the recently revamped Duke of Marlborough was New Zealand’s first pub.

Paihia, a picturesque seaside resort offers good access to the many islands in the Bay of Islands. There’s a wide range of accommodation, from backpackers’ hostels and camping grounds to luxurious retreats and an almost endless choice of restaurants specialising in fresh seafood. Activities available here include windsurfing, sailing, kayaking and big game fishing as well as cruises to the islands.

The Waitangi National Reserve offers the chance to learn more about the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, a treaty between the Maori and the (British) Crown. The Treaty house is now a national museum.

Kerikeri is an ideal base for backpackers wanting to explore the far north of New Zealand. There is a good range of Kerikeri accommodation to stay at for a few nights, including shops and other services. A visit to the Stone Store is a must.

Ninety Mile Beach (actually about 90 kilometres long) doubles as a road and it’s possible to travel along its sands aboard a specially designed coach bound for Cape Reinga, New Zealand’s northern most point. According to Maori belief Cape Reinga is the departure point for spirits of the recently deceased. Here you can see where the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea turbulently meet, walk to the famous lighthouse and send a postcard from the country’s northern most post box.

Having reached the northern most point there’s no need to see it all again as you head back south. Why not return to Auckland via the west coast. This part of Northland is sometimes referred to as the Kauri Coast, and it’s easy to see why. Not only is it home to the country’s oldest and largest trees, but you’ll also find a number of interesting kauri buildings such as the Pouto Lighthouse. You can learn more about these giant trees and their fascinating history at the Matakohe Kauri Museum near Dargaville. Don’t miss the emerald-blue Kai Iwi Lakes and the Kaipara harbour, New Zealand’s largest.