Rest of Northland

Need to know ...

From the scenic icons of the far north to the wild isolation of the west coast and the sophistication of Whangarei in the east, Northland features remarkable diversity. The Twin Coast Discovery Highway offers the ultimate overview. On the east coast, the harbour city of Whangarei is an ideal base for exploring the white sandy beaches of Bream Bay and the Poor Knight Islands Marine Reserve on the Tutukaka Coast. In the far north, explore Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach and travel off the beaten track to discover places like Ahipara and Doubtless Bay. On the west coast, be transported far from the ordinary in a region of quiet harbours, Maori culture and ancient kauri forests. Even the smallest outpost has its own pioneering stories to discover.

Main Centres

Whangarei – the region’s only city. Kaitaia – base for Ninety Mile Beach and Cape Reinga. Omapere and Opononi – intriguing towns on the Hokianga Harbour. Dargaville – close to Kaipara Harbour and Waipoua Forest.

Getting There

By Air – Whangarei and Kaitaia have flights from Auckland.
By Road – rent a car and drive the Twin Coast Discovery Highway. Coaches offer regular services to and from the region.

Getting Around

Rent a car at Whangarei or Kaikohe. A vehicle ferry operates across the Hokianga Harbour between Rawene and Kohukohu. Coach services operate between larger centres in the region.

Eating Out

Exclusive

A’deco (70 Kamo Rd, Whangarei,
t +64 9 459 4957) – award-winning restaurant with stunning food in a glorious Art Deco setting.

Casual

Funky Fish Café (34 Seaview Rd, Baylys Beach, Dargaville, t +64 9 439 8883) – a real gem on the west coast.
Knights Restaurant & Bar (Oceans Resort, Marina Dr, Tutukaka, t +64 9 470 2000) – acclaimed all-day dining.
Taipa Bay Resort (22 Taipa Point Rd, Doubtless Bay, t +64 9 406 0656) – beachfront restaurant, café and bar.
Mangonui Fish Shop (Waterfront Rd, Mangonui,
t +64 9 406 0478) – Northland’s famous fish ‘n’ chips shop over the water.

Sights

Whangaroa Harbour, to the north of the Bay of Islands, is a beautiful place of blue water and golden sandy beaches. The Cavilli Islands, final resting place of the Rainbow Warrior (once the Greenpeace flagship), is now known world-wide as a spectacular diving spot.

The Columbia maelstrom – the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet at the northern tip of
New Zealand, producing waves up to 10 metres high.

Action

Sand surfing down the giant sand dunes of Ninety Mile Beach.

Scuba diving at the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve on the Tutukaka Coast – regarded by the late Jacques Cousteau as one of the world’s top dive locations.

Relax

Explore the world-renowned Kauri Museum in Matakohe and learn how Northland’s heritage is tied to these remarkable trees.
Explore the peaceful waters of the Hokianga Harbour and the intriguing historic towns of Rawene (New Zealand’s third oldest European settlement) and Kohukohu.

THE experience

Travelling up the starkly beautiful Ninety Mile Beach to remote Cape Reinga. The northernmost tip of the North Island, Cape Reinga is a deeply spiritual place – according to Maori legend, it is here that the departing souls of those that have died leap into the ocean and travel back to the ancestral homeland of Hawaiki.