The Northland region of New Zealand is the northernmost area of the country known for a historic Maori site, its long beaches, and its coast line. With so much to do in this region, you could spend four days exploring the region to take in the wildlife, Most of the activity around Northland can be done from Paihia and for the sake of this itinerary, we are assuming that you are driving to Paihia from Auckland, staying in Paihia for your time in the Northland region, and returning to Auckland.
Day 1: Whangarei Falls and Matapouri Bay
This day of the itinerary is intended to be done between Auckland and Paihia. On your way up from Auckland, consider stopping at two black sand beaches, including Piha Beach and Muriwai Beach. These two expansive beaches have unique sand and expansive space, making them perfect for surfers.
The next part of the day can be completed on your drive from Auckland or as a day trip from Paihia. Head to Whangarei and walk the pathway to Whangarei Falls where you can take in this beautiful waterfall from viewpoints above or at the base of the falls themselves.
Later, make your way to Matapouri, an area with a few different beaches and coves where you can enjoy the subtropical coastline. You can start at Matapouri Beach, a long coastal beach in the bay. From this beach, you can walk across the headland walkway for a more secluded beach area. The other beach to explore (and a favorite of ours) is at Whale Bay. You will park at the top of the hill and walk through the forest to this sheltered bay with turquoise waters. If you want to visit all of these coastal areas, consider walking the Whale Bay Loop Track, a walk that takes you around the area to the different beaches over 2.5 miles (4 kilometers).
Day 2: Exploring Around Paihia
On your second day in the area, head to the small town of Kerikeri, a historical town with some of the oldest buildings of the country. Here, you can visit the Keriker Rainbow falls and some of the historical buildings, including the St. James church and the Stone Store & Kemp House.
After exploring this historic town, return to Paihia and head to the harbor where you will take a Bay of Islands day cruise. This 5-hour long cruise takes you around different islands within the bay where you will have the chance to spot different wildlife. You will also get to go through the “Hole in the Rock” formation at Motukokako Island. The cruise stops at two different locations, one of which will be great to lounge at the beach, hike around the island, and relax within the Bay of Islands.
The second stop will be at Russell, the town across the bay from Paihia and a great place to grab dinner. From Russell, you can take the local ferry to return to Paihia at the time of your choosing. If you are looking for a quaint and quiet accommodation, consider staying at least one night in Russell.
Day 3: Cape Reinga Tour
For your third day in the region, you will take a tour to Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand. We recommend a tour rather than driving because the drive is 3 hours in each direction to get to the lighthouse. In addition, the tour happens on full-wheel-drive buses that can ride on the 90-mile beach, giving you access to sandboarding.
You will start your day by exploring the beach and its expanse. And while it is called the 90 Mile beach, it is really only 55 miles (88 kilometers) long. The bus driver will provide boards with which you can use to sandboard down the dunes of the beach.
Later, you will make your way to the Cape Reinga lighthouse where you will be at the northernmost point of New Zealand. And finally, you will return to Paihia. The tour also includes lunch and a few opportunities to purchase snacks throughout.
Day 4: Nature on the Return to Auckland
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
For your final day in the region, you will head to one of the most important locations in New Zealand for the Maori people, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. This was the location where the treaty between the Maori people and European colonizers was ratified. However, the treaty has continued to be a controversial piece of legislation over the mistranslation and implementation of the treaty. Today, this area is a celebration of Maori culture.
The grounds contain two different museums, one that explains the history of the country and the treaty and another that discusses the contribution of the Maori people to the country, including in war. When visiting the grounds, you will also get a guided tour of the land, explaining the history of different buildings, giving context to the history of the Maori people on these islands, and sharing the culture of the Maori through performance.
Waipoua Forest
After visiting the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, you will make your way back to Auckland through a long detour to explore the unique nature of Northland. The Waipoua Forest contains some of the oldest trees in the world, the Kauri trees. These slow-growing giants are endemic to this area of New Zealand and completely unique to the country. Some of them are deemed to be as old as 2,000 years old. Unfortunately, they are vulnerable due to diseases that have been entering the local forests. However, they are vitally important and it is proven that the forests that contain the Kauri trees are richer in species variety than those that don’t in New Zealand. You can see some of these trees on the Tane Mahuta Walk or the Kauri Walks, both of which will take you through lush forests to some large Kauri trees. You will be in awe of the forest as you continue your drive towards Auckland.
Because the drive to Auckland can be very long from this part of the island, we recommend staying in Dargaville overnight to break up the drive and continue on to Auckland.
