Tourleader New Zealand

Tourleader Tips:

• Follow the coastal roads to see the hundreds of stunning beaches and bays. On the East Coast you will find the most beautiful and idyllic swimming coves fringed with Pohutukawa trees while you can find wild and lonely beaches on the West Coast stretching further than the eye can see.
  
• Take a cruise in the Bay of Islands or to the Poor Knights Islands to see what amazing things New Zealand has to offer in and on water.
  
• Learn about New Zealand settler and Maori history in the many heritage museums - this is where it all began!
• Northland has a warmer climate than the rest of New Zealand, especially warmer nights and ocean temperature. But the climate is also reflected in the dense Northland bush, some of the forests being ancient and untouched. Check out at least one of the many bush and coastal tracks - they can be found in all Northland corners.
  

Northland highlights:

•           Bay of IslandsRoberton Island           Far NorthCape Reinga           Bay of IslandsThe Hole in the Rock           Karikari PeninsulaMaitai Bay           Tutukaka CoastPoor Knights Islands           Kauri CoastRipiro Beach           Tutukaka CoastWhale Bay           Bay of IslandsWaitangi           Whangarei HeadsView from Mount Manaia           Whangaroa HarbourView from St. John's Rock Bay of IslandsRoberton Island
  
  The coastal road via Mangawhai: Take the Northland Twin Coast Discovery Highway and enjoy the beautiful coast line with the Mangawhai Heads and its gorgeous Cliff Walk and the beach communities Langs Beach and Waipu Cove. On the way back to SH1 you can stop at the interesting Scottish Settler’s Museum in Waipu. Close by is Ruakaka beach with a view to the Whangarei Heads, or take a stroll along Uretiti Beach right next to the highway.
• Whangarei: Northland's main centre combines city feeling with an environment that's up there with New Zealand's best. You can find magnificent viewpoints from extinct volcanoes, a rich Maori and European heritage with many historic pa sites, a beautiful Town Basin that attracts yachts from around the world, protected bush and walking tracks wherever you go, and the 26m Whangarei Falls which are the best of at least 5 other nice waterfalls in the vicinity. Whangarei has a subtropical climate and a very high density of artists and art galleries. The Bay of Islands and West Coast are already within day trip distance and the Whangarei Heads and Tutukaka Coast with their wild ocean beaches and idyllic bays are only a short drive away.
• The Whangarei Heads: The beautiful drive to the northern shore of Whangarei Harbour starts at the Town Basin in Whangarei. Along the Pohutukawa lined coast there are many picturesque bays, bush walks and Polynesian style volcanic summits, the roads end at wild ocean beaches - and only a few surfers and fishermen to share them with. After Parua Bay you can go straight towards the remote beaches of Pataua and Taiharuru, or take the right turnoff towards McLeod Bay and Ocean Beach. Soon Mount Manaia is towering above the landscape. At McLeod Bay you can detour to Reotahi behind Mount Aubry and get a close look at New Zealand’s only oil refinery across the harbour or see a small island marine reserve and the freezing works ruins from where frozen meat was shipped to England nearly 100 years ago. The views from Mount Manaia are wonderful, as are the 476m Bream Head and hidden Smugglers Bay on the way to the wildest surf beach in the region: Ocean Beach.
• Tutukaka Coast: Another Northland gem with gorgeous bays, peaceful river estuaries and million dollar baches, offering some of the finest beaches in the world. Thanks to its untouched and uncommercial nature the Tutukaka Coast is one of the top three coastlines in the world (according to the National Geographic Traveler magazine). The Poor Knights Islands benefit from warm northerly currents and are teeming with marine life in their protected reserve, offering the best diving and snorkelling in New Zealand and the best subtropical diving in the world, ranked as a top 10 dive spot by Jacques Cousteau. The coast starts at Ngunguru with its big estuary and a beautiful sandspit that sits between the village and the open ocean. Before the big game fishing port at Tutukaka Marina take the turnoff on the right to Pacific Bay, Church Bay and Whangaumu (or Wellingtons) Bay. Another gem of a beach is Matapouri Bay further north, the horseshoe shape is perfect and you can walk to the next highlight: Whale Bay. This fine beach is sheltered from the ocean and you can relax under Pohutukawa trees. The next 2 beaches Wooleys Bay and Sandy Bay are both wide and long which certainly appeals to many surfers. You can take a winding road back through rural countryside and join SH1 again at Hikurangi.
• Whangarei to Bay of Islands: You can either drive directly to Paihia via the famous public toilets in Kawakawa, designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser who once lived in the area, or take the longer and twisty Old Russell Road which leads you all the way along the coast to Russell. Alternatively you can take the car ferry from Opua to Russell.
• The Bay of Islands - Paihia and Russell: Paihia is the gateway to the bay - a cruise around the 144 islands is one of the absolute highlights of most New Zealand itineraries. The region is geared up for tourism: anything from island hopping on the way to the Hole in the Rock to swimming with dolphins to thrilling jetboats to relaxed sailing cruises to parasailing or kayaking etc. Just a short ferry ride away take a break from the action on the waterfront of the oldest town in the country, Russell, or catch a breathtaking view of the bay from Flagstaff Hill or Tapeka Point.
• The Bay of Islands - Waitangi: Just north of Paihia is Waitangi, the birthplace of New Zealand as a nation, where Maori chiefs and Europeans signed the Treaty in 1840. Set in beautiful grounds overlooking the bay you can see a fantastically carved marae (meeting house) from inside, a historical homestead, an exhibition and the biggest war waka (canoe) under its carved shelter. The loop road or a walking track will bring you to the Haruru Falls.
• The Bay of Islands - Kerikeri: This lovely 'boutique town' with many orchard and lifestyle farmers is set on an inlet river north of the bay, home of the oldest house in New Zealand, the Mission House from 1822 and the oldest stone house, the Stone Store from 1836, both are accessible as museums. Near Kerikeri you can also visit the Rainbow Falls and Aroha Island with a small Kiwi population.
• Whangaroa Harbour: This gorgeous bay mainly attracts fishermen and well informed walkers who know that the two steep summits called Duke's Nose and St.Paul's Rock offer amazing 360 degree views.
• Doubtless Bay and Karikari Peninsula: Mangonui with its waterfront drive and old settler houses is one of the most charming places in Northland, the detour from the highway takes  only a few minutes. Behind the lovely Mills Bay you'll find access to Rangikapiti Pa with great views back over Mangonui and north over Coopers Beach and towards the Karikari Peninsula. Far away from any crowds you will find the silica white sands near Puheke Hill viewpoint and the perfect shape Maitai Bay.
• The Far North: Heading up into the Aupouri Peninsula it is still 100 km to Cape Reinga with its iconic lighthouse - the spot where two oceans meet and Maori believe their souls pass by on their journey to legendary Hawaiki. The cape is not the only sight, also Tapotupotu Beach and the giant Te Paki sand dunes where you can sandboard are close by. Many travellers choose a bus tour to enjoy one leg of the trip on the impressive 90 Mile Beach that ends at the Ahipara beach community.
• Hokianga Harbour: The famous Polynesian discoverer Kupe once returned home to send his people back here. Catch a ferry between Kohukohu and Rawene - a lovely sight with early settler homes, wooden churches and houses on stilts. The Hokianga is a world apart, it seems to be from a different age and there is lots to explore: remote bush walks, New Zealand's biggest sand dunes, the bizarre Koutu Boulders, the fluted basalt valley called Wairere Boulders and the great viewpoint overlooking the harbour at South Head.
• Waipoua Forest: South of Opononi and Omapere is Northland's biggest ancient forest with two short walks leading to the largest Kauri trees existing, Te Matua Ngahere (Father of the Forest) and Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest), who once were only allowed to be approached by Maori priests. Both are unique, Tane Mahuta in height and Te Matua Ngahere in width, both radiate with personality.
• Kauri Coast: More Kauri trees can be seen in Trounson Kauri Park where chances to see a Kiwi at night are higher than most places in New Zealand. The heart of the Kauri Coast is Dargaville, a typical farmer town. Don't miss to take a detour to Baylys Beach, a small beach community where you can access Ripiro Beach, the secret alternative to 90 Mile Beach, a spectacular wide and firm west coast beach stretching for 110 kilometres, good for some endless beach driving or lonely walks. South of Dargaville is Matakohe with its famous Kauri Museum, which has organically grown into a huge complex, it explains the interesting Northland history with its Kauri logging and gumdigging.

Map of Northland

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