Things to do in Northland
60 places worth stopping for and 24 places to stay on a road trip through Northland.
See and do
- History
History · Waitangi
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
The birthplace of the nation: Treaty House, a huge waka and a carved meeting house.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Cape Reinga
Cape Reinga lighthouse
The end-of-the-road lighthouse where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet.
- Walk
Walk · Rāwhiti
Cape Brett and Hole in the Rock
A long day walk to a historic lighthouse, and a cruise to the Hole in the Rock.
- Walk
Walk · Waipoua Forest
Tāne Mahuta
The largest living kauri tree, a short walk from the highway.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Tutukaka
Poor Knights Islands
A marine reserve with clear water, sea caves and excellent diving and snorkelling.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · KerikeriHidden gem
Aroha Island Ecocentre
A small island sanctuary with kiwi walks and camping.
- Walk
Walk · HorekeHidden gem
Wairere Boulders Nature Park
Odd fluted boulders in a forest valley with a waterfall and caves.
- Gallery
Gallery · Whangārei
Hundertwasser Art Centre
A colourful art centre with a rooftop garden and Māori art gallery.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · Te Paki
Te Paki giant sand dunes
Climb huge dunes, then board-slide down to the stream at the bottom.
- Swimming hole
Swimming hole · MatapouriHidden gem
Matapouri and Mermaid Pool
A sheltered beach and a rock pool tucked around the headland.
Beach · Waipapakauri
Ninety Mile Beach at Waipapakauri
The well-known long west-coast beach, with a walk on the sand worth doing at low tide.
- Town
Town · Russell
Russell (Kororāreka)
A tiny historic village on the peninsula, reached by a 15-minute vehicle ferry.
- Walk
Walk · Paihia
Urupukapuka Island
The biggest island in the bay, with walking tracks, beaches and camping.
- Walk
Walk · Waipoua Forest
Te Matua Ngahere
The second great kauri, 'Father of the Forest', with a longer forest walk.
- Lake
Lake · Kai Iwi Lakes
Kai Iwi Lakes
Three dune lakes with clear, swimmable water and white sand.
- Walk
Walk · Whangārei HeadsHidden gem
Bream Head
A coastal reserve with a steep walk up to a headland with big sea views.
- Beach
Beach · KerikeriHidden gem
Taronui Bay
White-sand bay at the end of a farmland walk north of Kerikeri, reached on foot only.
- Beach
Beach · WhangareiHidden gem
Mimiwhangata Coastal Park
Farm-park headland with sweeping beach, ponds and a loop walk, at the end of a gravel road.
- History
History · RangihouaHidden gem
Marsden Cross and Oihi Bay
Farmland walk to the cross marking where Samuel Marsden preached the first sermon, with Oihi Bay below.
Hot pool · NgāwhāHidden gem
Ngāwhā Springs
Mineral hot pools in a rural pocket south of Kaikohe.
- Museum
Museum · Matakohe
The Kauri Museum
The best museum on the kauri timber and gum industry.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · WhangaroaHidden gem
Whangaroa and St Paul's Rock
A fishing village below a rugged volcanic plug, with a lookout up top.
- History
History · Kerikeri
Kerikeri Stone Store and Kemp House
New Zealand's oldest stone building and oldest wooden house, side by side.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · WhananakiHidden gem
Whananaki footbridge
The longest footbridge in the southern hemisphere, across a tidal inlet.
- Beach
Beach · Taupō BayHidden gem
Taupō Bay
A pōhutukawa-lined surf beach with excellent snorkelling when calm.
- History
History · Matauri Bay
Matauri Bay and Rainbow Warrior memorial
A big sweep of beach and a hilltop memorial to the Rainbow Warrior.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Haruru
Haruru Falls
A wide horseshoe waterfall easy to reach from a short walk.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · Kawakawa
Hundertwasser toilets, Kawakawa
A fantastical public toilet block designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
- Beach
Beach · MitimitiHidden gem
Mitimiti beach
A remote west-coast beach reached by a long winding gravel road.
- Town
Town · Ōmāpere
Ōmāpere and Opononi
Two small harbourside towns facing the huge sand dunes of North Head.
- Activity
Activity · OpononiHidden gem
Hokianga Harbour sand dunes
Huge sand dunes on the north head, reached by a short boat ride.
- Walk
Walk · ArangaHidden gem
Maunganui Bluff
A headland walk to a viewpoint at the south end of Ninety Mile coast.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Whangārei
Whangārei Falls
A 26 m waterfall right on the edge of town.
- Walk
Walk · Whangārei HeadsHidden gem
Mount Manaia
A steep climb up the jagged peak above Whangārei Heads.
- Beach
Beach · Waipu Cove
Waipu Cove
A long, patrolled beach that is good for swimming and surfing.
- Walk
Walk · Mangawhai Heads
Mangawhai Heads and cliff walkway
A coastal walkway above the beach, with ocean views.
- History
History · AhiparaHidden gem
Ahipara gumfields
A strange lunar-looking landscape where kauri gum was dug by hand.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Russell
Flagstaff Hill (Maiki)
A short climb above Russell for a wide view over the Bay of Islands.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Kerikeri
Rainbow Falls (Kerikeri)
A tall single-drop waterfall a short walk from the road in Kerikeri.
- Walk
Walk · PakarakaHidden gem
Pouērua pā and volcano walks
A volcanic cone and ancient terraced pā site with big country views.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · Kawakawa
Kawakawa public toilets (Hundertwasser)
A public toilet block designed by Hundertwasser, and a proper road trip photo stop.
Cave · WaipuHidden gem
Waipu Caves
Free limestone cave with glowworms and a stream, reached by a short walk from a gravel car park.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · OpononiHidden gem
Waiotemarama Falls
A 20 m waterfall in Hokianga rainforest, half an hour on an easy track.
Viewpoint · Tokatoka (Kaipara)Hidden gem
Tokatoka Peak
A 20 minute climb up a volcanic plug for 360 degree Kaipara views.
- History
History · TowaiHidden gem
Ruapekapeka Pā
Walk the earthworks of the 1846 pā where the Northern War ended.
- Walk
Walk · Russell (Whangamumu)Hidden gem
Whangamumu Harbour
An easy forest and beach walk to a historic whaling harbour.
Walk · Puketī ForestHidden gem
Manginangina Kauri Walk
A 15 minute buggy-friendly boardwalk among towering kauri.
- Walk
Walk · Whangārei Heads
Smugglers Bay loop
A coastal forest loop to a beach, with WWII gun emplacements on the way.
- Walk
Walk · TutukakaHidden gem
Tutukaka Head lighthouse walk
Short coastal walk to the lighthouse at the north head of Tutukaka Harbour.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · WhangareiHidden gem
Taheke Falls track
Three-kilometre loop through regenerating kauri to a viewing platform over Taheke Falls.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · OmapereHidden gem
Arai-Te-Uru signal station walk
Clifftop walk at the South Head of the Hokianga with a grassy lookout over the harbour mouth.
- Walk
Walk · MimiwhangataHidden gem
Paparahi Point
Unmarked coastal walk to an old pa site on a quiet headland inside Mimiwhangata Coastal Park.
- Walk
Walk · MangamukaHidden gem
Omahuta kauri stump walk
Short flat walk to the stump and crown of one of the biggest kauri ever felled in Omahuta Forest.
- Activity
Activity · Kawakawa
Bay of Islands Vintage Railway
A short ride on a heritage train that runs down the main street.
- History
History · Waimate NorthHidden gem
Te Waimate Mission
A quiet colonial mission station with a farmhouse and a pretty church.
- Beach
Beach · WhatuwhiwhiHidden gem
Tokerau Beach
A long, quiet beach on the Karikari side of Doubtless Bay.
- Cave
Cave · Waiomio
Kawiti Glowworm Caves
Guided limestone caves with glowworms, run by the Kawiti family.
- History
History · RaweneHidden gem
Rawene and Clendon House
A laid-back harbour village with a car ferry across to Kohukohu.
- Beach
Beach · Langs BeachHidden gem
Langs Beach
A quiet, family-friendly white-sand beach.
Activity · OpuaHidden gem
Opua–Okiato vehicle ferry
A short car ferry that is the quickest way to Russell, with harbour views.
Food stops
- Restaurant
Restaurant · Mangōnui
Mangonui Fish Shop
Fish and chips on the Mangōnui waterfront, a long-running Far North institution.
- Pub
Pub · Russell
Duke of Marlborough Hotel
Waterfront pub in Russell, one of the oldest licensed premises in the country.
Pub · Russell
Duke of Marlborough Hotel, Russell
A harbourfront pub in a licence-holding building dating back to the 1800s.
Places to stay
Campground · Cape ReingaHidden gem
Tapotupotu campsite
The northernmost DOC campsite, just south of Cape Reinga.
Campground · Spirits BayHidden gem
Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) campsite
A beachfront DOC campsite on remote Spirits Bay.
Campground · WhangaruruHidden gem
Waikahoa Bay campsite
Tent-only DOC walk-in camp at Waikahoa Bay.
Campground · NgatakiHidden gem
Rarawa campsite
DOC beach camping behind Rarawa Beach.
Campground · Karikari Peninsula
Maitai Bay campsite
Big DOC campsite with swimming bays on Karikari.
Campground · Paihia
Urupukapuka Bay campsite
DOC camping on Urupukapuka Island.
Campground · KaihuHidden gem
Trounson Kauri Park campground
Serviced DOC campsite on the edge of a kauri forest.
Campground · Cape ReingaHidden gem
Tapotupotu Bay campsite
Sheltered white-sand cove just east of Cape Reinga, with a simple DOC campsite behind the beach.
- Hut
Hut · Whangārei Heads, Bream HeadHidden gem
Peach Cove Hut
Eight-bunk serviced hut in Bream Head Scenic Reserve, under two hours' walk from the road, with kiwi at night.
Hut · Rāwhiti, Bay of Islands
Cape Brett Hut
Converted lighthouse keeper's house with 23 bunks at the end of the Cape Brett track, with views to the Hole in the Rock.
- Campground
Campground · Taharoa Domain, Kai Iwi Lakes
Pine Beach campground, Kai Iwi Lakes
Council campground on the eastern shore of Lake Taharoa with powered and unpowered spaces for up to 480 people.
- Lodge
Lodge · Kohukohu, HokiangaHidden gem
The Tree House Hokianga
Treetop hostel and cabins in subtropical gardens by the Hokianga Harbour, popular with cyclists and walkers.
- Lodge
Lodge · Whirinaki, South HokiangaHidden gem
Okopako Lodge and Camping Ground
Working farm lodge above Hokianga Harbour with rooms, cabins, tent sites and camper van parking and a DOC walk from the gate.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · RussellHidden gem
Orongo Bay Holiday Park
Bush-set Gold Qualmark park near Russell where brown kiwi and weka wander and you can sit round a fire pit.
Holiday park · Waipu Cove
Camp Waipu Cove
Not-for-profit beachfront camp that has twice been voted NZ's best camping beach, with a glamping yurt.
- Campground
Campground · Waipoua
Waipoua Forest Campground
Iwi-run campground and accommodation at the entrance to Waipoua Forest, close to Tāne Mahuta.
Campground · WaipapaHidden gem
Puketi Recreation Area campsite
DOC forest camp and hut in Puketi Forest.
Campground · WhangaruruHidden gem
Puriri Bay campsite
DOC camping on the Whangaruru Harbour.
Campground · Whananaki
Otamure Bay campsite
Big beach camp near Whananaki.
Campground · Waipu
Uretiti campsite
Big DOC beach camp 5 km north of Waipu.
- Campground
Campground · KerikeriHidden gem
Aroha Island campsite
A small campground at a kiwi sanctuary on Kerikeri Inlet.
- Freedom camping
Freedom camping · Whangarei Heads
Ocean Beach car park freedom camping
Free overnight car park next to Ocean Beach, an easy surf beach at the end of the Whangarei Heads road.
Campground · WhangaruruHidden gem
Bland Bay Camp Ground
Family-run beachfront camp between Whangaruru Harbour and the Pacific, with 136 sites and dogs allowed on leads.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Houhora HeadsHidden gem
Houhora Heads (Wagener) Holiday Park
Harbour-entrance camping at Houhora Heads with powered and tent sites, cabins and a pet-friendly area.
Plan the drive, not just the stops
Roadtrip works out what the drive costs in fuel for your car, splits it into days with the best stops and places to sleep, and finds the cheapest fuel on the way.
Rated 4.7 by drivers · 700,000 downloads
