The Northland region of New Zealand is the northernmost area of the country known for historic sites, its long beaches, and its coast line. With so many things to do in Northland, 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.
The best way to get around the Northland region is by renting a car.
Day 1: Whangarei Falls and Matapouri Bay
Start your road trip in the Northland area by heading 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).
After exploring the beaches, we recommend staying in Paihia for your time in the Northland area as it has the best access to the various things to do in Northland. We talk about some other quaint locations near Paihia below that could also be a great option to take in the region in a more romantic and relaxed way in Russell.
Explore your hotel options to stay in Paihia.
Day 2: Exploring Around Paihia
The Northland region has some of the oldest buildings in New Zealand and exploring the history is one of the things to do in Northland. So, 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. Of all the things to do in Northland, this tour is the most relaxing and getting the opportunity to take in the Bay of Islands is a unique part of the region.
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. The accommodations along the bay are very picturesque and a nice romantic escape. If you do not want to use the ferry to get to Russell, you can also take a 45 minute drive from Paihia there. (Russell is on the end of a peninsula and not an island).
Explore your hotel options to stay 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. This tour is one of the top things to do in Northland and departs from Paihia.
The tour has the option of picking you up from your hotel accommodation in Paihia. The first stop will be at the 90 Mile beach to explore its great expanse. (The order of the tour depends on the tide 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. This point was significant to the Māori people because they believe that the dead begin their journey to the afterlife from this point. This is also the place where two bodies of water converge and on a sunny day, you can see the different colors of the water mixing together at this point.
And finally, you will return to Paihia where you can be dropped off at your accommodation. 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, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. When it comes to historical significance, visiting the Waitangi Treaty Grounds is one of the most important things to do in Northland. This was the location where the treaty between the Māori 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.
In addition to the historic and museum elements located on this site, this area is a celebration of Māori 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 Māori people to the country, with an emphasis on their service in wars. 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 people on these islands, and sharing the culture of the Māori through performance. You can purchase tickets to the treaty grounds here.
If you are looking for a longer and more extensive experience to learn about Māori history and culture, you can look into their show and hangi experience where they share their culture and food with visitors. This is typically an evening experience and you can purchase tickets for this here.
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, one of the cool nature things to do in 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.
Explore your hotel options to stay in Dargaville.
