Northland Bay of Islands
5
Day Itinerary •
New Zealand
Five days in Northland and the Bay of Islands give you the full extraordinary sweep of New Zealand's subtropical north, from the 144-island Bay of Islands and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to Cape Reinga at the very tip of the country, the ancient kauri forests of the Waipoua and the extraordinary Hokianga Harbour, and the impressive Whangarei Falls on the return drive south. This route covers the complete Northland experience. Paihia, the Bay of Islands cruise and Russell, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Haruru Falls, Cape Reinga and the Ninety Mile Beach dunes, the extraordinary Tane Mahuta kauri tree in the Waipoua Forest, the Hokianga Harbour with its remarkable giant sand dunes, and Whangarei on the return.
Best Time To Visit
Year-round. Dec to Apr warmest. Jun to Aug mild and quiet.
Getting There
Drive 3 hours north from Auckland or take the InterCity bus.
Getting Around
Car essential throughout. The Twin Coast route loops Northland.
Budget Per Day
Approx NZ$200 to NZ$400 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, mostly short walks and drives
DAY 1
PAIHIA AND BAY OF ISLANDS
MORNING
PAIHIA WATERFRONT AND THE BAY OF ISLANDS
Paihia's extraordinary waterfront on the Bay of Islands gives immediate access to the 144 islands of the most beautiful subtropical bay in New Zealand. The remarkable pohutukawa-lined foreshore, the view across to Russell and the extraordinary turquoise water of the bay are outstanding. The town is small and entirely walkable, the waterfront being the finest place in Northland to watch the bay come alive with sailing boats, fishing vessels and cruise launches in the morning. Travel: 2.5 hour cruise
MIDDAY
BAY OF ISLANDS CRUISE AND HOLE IN THE ROCK
The Bay of Islands cruise gives the finest experience of the extraordinary 144-island archipelago, the remarkable passage past secluded bays, the Paihia and Russell historic waterfront from the water, and the extraordinary Piercy Island with its Hole in the Rock sea cave large enough to pass through. Bottlenose dolphins join the boat on approximately 90 percent of trips year-round. The extraordinary island landscape changes continuously. Approx NZ$120. Travel: 10 min ferry
AFTERNOON
RUSSELL AND THE HISTORIC WATERFRONT
Russell across the bay is New Zealand's first permanent European settlement, its extraordinary historic waterfront buildings including the Duke of Marlborough Hotel, New Zealand's first licensed premises, the Pompallier Mission of 1841 and the remarkable Christ Church with its musket ball holes from the 1845 bombardment giving the finest concentration of colonial history in the country. The extraordinary waterfront is entirely walkable. Pompallier entry approx NZ$18.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands is the most extraordinary free island in Northland, accessible by water taxi from Paihia with remarkable coastal walks giving extraordinary bay panoramas. The island is predator-free and has the finest birdsong in the Bay of Islands. Water taxi approx NZ$30 return. The finest hidden island escape.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Paihia Coffee and breakfast before the Bay of Islands cruise. | Lunch: Lunch on the cruise Outstanding on-board food on the bay cruise. | Dinner: The Duke of Marlborough, Russell Outstanding historic hotel restaurant. Local seafood in NZ's oldest licensed premises.
DAY 2
WAITANGI TREATY GROUNDS
MORNING
WAITANGI TREATY GROUNDS
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are the most significant historical site in New Zealand, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840 founding the nation as a partnership between Maori and the British Crown. The extraordinary carved Te Whare Runanga meeting house, the remarkable Treaty House built in 1833, the largest Maori war canoe in New Zealand at 35 metres, and the extraordinary guided cultural performance give the finest single New Zealand cultural experience. Entry approx NZ$50. Travel: 10 min ferry
MIDDAY
RUSSELL HERITAGE WALK
Russell's extraordinary collection of 19th-century buildings gives the finest heritage walk in Northland. The remarkable Pompallier Mission with its original tanning and bookbinding equipment, the extraordinary Christ Church built in 1836 and still bearing musket ball holes from the 1845 bombardment by Hone Heke, and the Russell Museum with its remarkable scale model of Cook's Endeavour are outstanding. The extraordinary waterfront at noon with the bay glittering behind is the finest in Northland. Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
HARURU FALLS BOARDWALK
Haruru Falls above Paihia is the most extraordinary accessible waterfall in the Bay of Islands, a horseshoe waterfall on the Waitangi River reached by a remarkable 4km boardwalk through extraordinary mangrove wetland forest from Paihia. The extraordinary mangrove ecosystem, the finest example of subtropical coastal forest in Northland, and the remarkable falls themselves are outstanding. Entirely free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Te Tii Beach north of Waitangi is the most extraordinary free beach in the Bay of Islands, an extraordinary white sand beach directly below the Waitangi Treaty Grounds accessible via a short walk. Almost no other visitors at this end of the beach. The finest hidden swimming beach near Paihia.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast in Paihia Early departure for Waitangi before the tour groups arrive. | Lunch: Cafe in Russell Outstanding waterfront cafe. Local green-lipped mussels and fresh fish. | Dinner: Provenir Restaurant, Paihia Outstanding Bay of Islands seafood. Local fish and New Zealand lamb.
DAY 3
CAPE REINGA
MORNING
DRIVE NORTH VIA THE TWIN COAST HIGHWAY
The drive north from Paihia toward Cape Reinga on the Twin Coast Discovery Highway passes through the extraordinary subtropical Northland landscape, the remarkable Mangonui fishing village on the Doubtless Bay and the extraordinary Coopers Beach with its pohutukawa lining giving the finest coastal drive in the north. The drive to the start of Ninety Mile Beach takes approximately 2 hours from Paihia. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
CAPE REINGA LIGHTHOUSE
Cape Reinga's extraordinary lighthouse at the northern tip of New Zealand stands on the place where Maori believe the spirits of the dead depart on their journey to Hawaiki. The remarkable convergence of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean visible below the cape in extraordinary churning swirls, and the extraordinary pohutukawa tree at the tip whose roots the spirits slide down into the sea, give the most remarkable spiritual landscape in New Zealand. Entirely free. Travel: 1.5 hour drive back
AFTERNOON
TE PAKI SAND DUNES
The Te Paki Stream sand dunes are the most extraordinary sandboarding experience in New Zealand, the remarkable 150-metre dunes of pure white sand above a flowing freshwater stream giving the finest natural activity near Cape Reinga. The extraordinary landscape of white dunes against the blue Tasman Sea horizon is the finest coastal panorama at the northern tip. Boogie boards for hire at the dunes. The drive back south toward Hokianga is extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Tapotupotu Bay campsite below Cape Reinga is the most extraordinary DOC campsite in Northland, a remarkable sheltered bay within walking distance of the lighthouse with the finest stargazing in the north. Camping approx NZ$15 per person. The most extraordinary overnight location at the tip of New Zealand.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before early departure Stock up before the long Cape Reinga drive. | Lunch: Cafe at Mangonui or Coopers Beach Outstanding Northland fish and chips at the harbour. | Dinner: Opononi Hotel or local cafe Outstanding Hokianga Harbour dinner. Local fish and New Zealand lamb.
DAY 4
HOKIANGA AND KAURI
MORNING
WAIPOUA FOREST AND TANE MAHUTA
Tane Mahuta in the Waipoua Forest is the most extraordinary living thing in New Zealand, the largest kauri tree in the country at 51 metres tall and approximately 2,000 years old. The name means Lord of the Forest and the extraordinary ancient kauri is a taonga, a treasure of immense spiritual importance to the Maori people. The short 10-minute walk from the car park through extraordinary kauri forest gives the finest single natural encounter in Northland. Free entry. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
HOKIANGA HARBOUR AND THE NORTHERN HEAD DUNES
The Hokianga Harbour is the most extraordinary harbour in Northland, its remarkable tidal estuary connecting the Tasman Sea with the extraordinary interior of the Northland peninsula. The extraordinary giant sand dunes on the northern head of the harbour, accessible by ferry from Opononi, give the finest dune landscape in the country. The remarkable ferry crossing on the extraordinary tidal harbour is outstanding. Ferry approx NZ$15 return. Dunes free. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
RAWENE AND THE HOKIANGA HERITAGE
Rawene is the most extraordinary small historic town on the Hokianga Harbour, its remarkable collection of colonial buildings on the water including Clendon House, home of the American consul to New Zealand in the 1830s and the oldest surviving house in the country still on its original site. The extraordinary Hokianga vehicle ferry gives the finest harbour crossing in Northland. Clendon House entry approx NZ$5.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Four Sisters kauri trees in the Waipoua Forest are the most extraordinary undiscovered walk in the forest, four massive kauri trees growing together in a remarkable cluster accessible on the Te Matua Ngahere trail leading to the Father of the Forest, the second largest kauri in New Zealand. The finest hidden kauri walk in Northland. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe on the Hokianga or Opononi Coffee before the Waipoua Forest walk. | Lunch: Cafe in Opononi Outstanding Hokianga Harbour cafe. Local fish and chips. | Dinner: Opononi Hotel Outstanding harbour hotel restaurant. Local Northland seafood.
DAY 5
WHANGAREI AND RETURN
MORNING
DRIVE SOUTH VIA THE KAIPARA HARBOUR
The drive south from the Hokianga through the extraordinary Northland countryside via the Kaipara Harbour coast gives the finest rural New Zealand landscape in the north. The remarkable Dargaville town on the Northern Wairoa River is the centre of the kauri region and has the extraordinary Kauri Museum at Matakohe nearby. The Kauri Museum tells the remarkable story of the kauri gum industry and the extraordinary kauri timber trade that shaped Northland. Travel: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
WHANGAREI FALLS
Whangarei Falls is the most extraordinary urban waterfall in New Zealand, a remarkable 26-metre waterfall dropping through extraordinary native bush within walking distance of the city centre. The extraordinary falls are set in the fine Whangarei Falls Scenic Reserve with a remarkable viewing platform directly above the falls and the finest short walk in the city through extraordinary regenerating native forest. Entirely free. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
WHANGAREI TOWN BASIN AND RETURN
Whangarei Town Basin is the most extraordinary marina precinct in Northland, its remarkable collection of galleries, cafes and the extraordinary Whangarei Art Museum around the beautiful Town Basin giving the finest city afternoon in the north. The Clapham Clock Museum with its extraordinary collection of over 1,400 clocks is the most remarkable single attraction in Whangarei. The drive south from Whangarei to Auckland takes approximately 2 hours.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Matakohe Kauri Museum on the drive south from the Hokianga is the most extraordinary regional museum in Northland, its remarkable collection of kauri timber furniture, ancient kauri gum and extraordinary photographs of the kauri logging era giving the finest insight into how the great kauri forests were felled. Entry approx NZ$25. The most extraordinary museum in Northland.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast or cafe Early departure for the southern drive. | Lunch: Cafe in Whangarei Outstanding Whangarei Town Basin cafe. Local food and coffee. | Dinner: Restaurant in Whangarei or Auckland Outstanding farewell New Zealand dinner on the return south.
Where To Stay
Paihia, Nights 1 to 2 Paihia Beach Resort or Ala Moana Lodge. Waterfront. Approx NZ$180 to NZ$350. Opononi or Omapere, Night 3 to 4 Opononi Hotel or local B&B. Hokianga Harbour. Approx NZ$120 to NZ$220. Whangarei, Night 5 Distinction Whangarei Hotel. Town Basin location. Approx NZ$150 to NZ$280.
Top Tips
1. Book the Bay of Islands cruise ahead in summer. The Hole in the Rock tour is the finest on the bay.
2. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds guided tour is essential. The cultural performance is extraordinary.
3. Tane Mahuta, the largest kauri tree in New Zealand, requires a short walk from the car park. Free entry.
4. The Hokianga giant sand dunes on the northern head are only accessible by ferry across the harbour.
5. Ninety Mile Beach is a public road but driving it solo is risky. Only go with a tour operator.
6. Northland pohutukawa trees flower bright red in December and January, the finest natural spectacle in the north.
Total Budget
Approx NZ$200 to NZ$400 per person per day