Northland New Zealand is the far north region of New Zealand’s North Island. It begins a little over an hour north of Auckland and reaches to the far northern tip at Cape Regina. It is filled with some of the most spectacular landscapes on the North Island, with white sand beaches, waterfalls, ancient forests, massive sand dunes, and more! Continue reading to discover 9 must-see stops in Northland New Zealand!
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9 of the Best Places to go in Northland New Zealand
Table of Contents
- 1. Piroa Falls
- 2. Bream Bay
- 3. AH Reed Memorial Park
- 4. Whangarei Falls
- 5. Bay of Islands
- 6. Action Ninja World
- 7. Rainbow Falls
- 8. Cape Reinga
- 9. Te Paki Sand Dunes
1. Piroa Falls
The Piroa Falls is a spectacular 65-foot cascading waterfall that can be found within the Waipu Gorge Scenic Reserve.
The trail leading to the waterfall is a short .25 mile round trip track through the native forest. It’s an easy trail suited for most ages.
The path gradually descends into the gorge where you’ll cross the Ahuroa River over a short concrete bridge before reaching the falls.
In the summer you can wade in the shallow pools at the bottom of the falls. If you continue further downstream from the falls you can even find a few more swimming holes to play in.
We visited in the winter but my kids still had fun wading in the water and climbing on the rock ledges.
The trailhead can be found along Waipu Gorge Road, a narrow gravel road with limited parking. A high-clearance vehicle is not needed, but use caution.
2. Bream Bay
Bream Bay is home to dreamy white sand beaches and quaint coastal towns on the east coast of Northland New Zealand.
Waipu is a Scottish heritage town and the largest town on the shore of the bay. Here you can rent bikes to explore the area, go shopping at the One Stop Vintage Shop, grab a bite to eat at Frenchy’s Kitchen mobile food truck, or learn about the Scottish heritage at the Waipu Museum.
You can also discover glowworms inside the nearby Waipu Caves. The glowworms can be found in the third chamber of the limestone cave, just be sure to bring a flashlight and tennis shoes as the ground is often wet.
This coastal paradise also boasts some of the best beaches in Northland New Zealand. Waipu Cove, Lang’s Beach, and the 8-mile-long Ruakaka Beach are some of the most popular. Smugglers Cove is a secluded white sand beach and a bit of a local’s secret.
Uretiti Beach is also one of our favorites. The sugary white sand is powder soft and absolutely beautiful. There is even a DOC campground just above the sand dunes where you can wake up to this surreal view. It was our favorite place to camp on our North Island road trip!
3. AH Reed Memorial Park
The AH Reed Memorial Park offers enchanting wooded paths and raised walkways through the original ancient kauri forest. The giant kauri trees found in the park are at least 500 years old. These are the largest trees in New Zealand and can only be found in Northland.
It is a pleasant spot to enjoy the outdoors with several loop tracks throughout the park. It reminded me of our other favorite forest trail in Rotorua.
The Canopy Walkway is the most popular track and only takes about 25 minutes to complete. The boardwalk takes you above the top of the forest canopy where you can get up close with these mighty subtropical rainforest giants.
The trail also follows along the bubbling Wai Koromiko Stream and eventually leads to the Paranui Falls and swimming hole.
Entrance is free and there is ample parking with three different parking lots available to access different portions of the park.
You’ll need to pass through a bio-security where your shoes will be cleaned in order to protect the forest and prohibit the spread of any possible soil contamination.
4. Whangarei Falls
The Whangarei Falls is probably my favorite waterfall in Northland New Zealand. It doesn’t take much effort to reach these falls, but you’ll be blown away by the 85-foot majestic curtain waterfall.
The Whangarei Falls are located in a residential area about 10 minutes outside of the Whangarei city center. It is an unassuming location for a waterfall of this magnitude, and it is surprising that you can pull up and see them from the parking lot.
The parking lot is located at the top of the waterfall and there is a short paved path to a viewing deck. You can continue the trail down to the base of the waterfall where you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the middle of a tropical jungle.
You’ll need to cross a bridge to reach another lookout and from here you can even follow a trail that allows you to hike behind the waterfall. It was truly a magical experience. The loop track to the falls takes about 20-30 minutes.
The Whangarei Scenic Reserve is a well-maintained park with restrooms and picnic tables, so pack a lunch and enjoy an afternoon outdoors.
The waterfall often dries up during the summer or drought season, the best time to visit is in the late winter or early spring.
5. Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is one of the most popular big-game fishing and sailing destinations in New Zealand. Tourists and locals alike flock to this beautiful region comprised of 144 islands.
It’s a true maritime playground with boat tours, passenger ferries, sea planes, chartered yachts, sea kayaks, and speed boat rentals that allow visitors to explore the many remote islands.
Cape Brett and Piercy Island’s “Hole in the Rock” are notable stops. An abundance of wildlife can also be found near Tapeka Point with dolphins, penguins, marlin, and even whales during migration season.
Russell is a popular destination and can be reached by a passenger ferry service departing from Paihia for $14/adults and $6.50/kids. There is also a vehicle ferry from Opua to Russell.
The charming town of Russell offers oceanfront dining, boutique shops, seaside cottages, coastal walking tracks, historical museums, and much more. Stop in at Christ Church, the oldest church in New Zealand, and spend the day relaxing at Long Beach. This is also a beautiful place to catch the sunset.
The Parrot Place in Kerikeri is also a fun and unique place where you can hand feed parrots. And be sure to stop by Makana Confections nearby to see the chocolate factory and even enjoy free samples.
6. Action Ninja World
If you’re traveling with kids, it’s easy to forget that seeing a waterfall for the 563rd time isn’t as exciting to them. Sometimes they just need some good old-fashioned fun.
We found exactly that at Action Ninja World. It has all the thrills, excitment and danger that childhood should be made of.
From high flying trapeze, tight rope walks and slides that launch you into the air, it was a day the kids will be talking about for a long time to come!
When we visited, this park was located in Paihia but has since been moved to Matakana Country Park.
While the new location is just a little south of Northland New Zealand, I am still including it in this guide because it was such a unique place and a fun day for the kids and adults alike!
7. Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is another impressive waterfall that doesn’t take much effort to reach. A short and easy 10-minute walk will lead you to the top of the falls where you can see them plunging into the pool below.
If you want to reach the base of the falls, there is a steep trail down to the basin. Plan for about 1-hour roundtrip, just use caution as it is sometimes muddy and slippery.
You can also follow the trail along the river through the kauri forest to reach the Stone Store. This is the oldest surviving stone building in all of New Zealand. It was built in 1832 and served as a trading post, library, barracks, and other purposes throughout the years. Visitors can take a guided tour to learn more about the history.
8. Cape Reinga
On your way up to Cape Reinga, make a stop at the Karikari Peninsula. This peninsula is known for its pristine white-sand beaches. It is also a great place to spot whales in the winter months, particularly May-July.
Maitai Bay is the most popular beach, you can also take the short Karikari Bay track across the sand dunes to reach Karikari Beach.
During our trip, we freedom camped on a remote beach on the peninsula and witnessed the most spectacular sunset.
Once you reach Cape Reinga, take a short paved walking trail to discover a picturesque lighthouse.
It is situated at the northernmost point of the island with breathtaking 360-degree views. It is my second favorite lighthouse in all of New Zealand, with Nugget Point being the first.
If you look down on the craggy cliffs to the right of the lighthouse, you’ll see a pohutukawa tree that is of great significance to the Maori culture.
This sacred tree is over 800 hundred years old and the Maori believe it is where the spirits of the deceased jump off into the ocean to return to their homeland.
From the peninsula, you can also see where the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea collide. It is fascinating to see the constant rolling waves of the different colored water colliding.
9. Te Paki Sand Dunes
When you think of New Zealand, the last thing you’ll probably picture is rolling sand dunes. But that is exactly what you’ll find at Te Paki, miles of rolling dunes surrounded by a thick forest on the coast of the Tasman Sea.
Sand boarding down the Te Paki Sand Dunes was definitely at the top of our Northland New Zealand bucket list, and it did not disappoint!
Boogie boards are available for rent out of a small truck at the base of the dunes for $15 (cash only). We actually passed a house on our way with a sign advertising rentals for $10, so we stopped there to pick up boards.
It is a killer workout making the staggering hike up the massive dunes. Your feet will sink down into the sand with every step and you’ll definitely feel the burn.
But it is worth it as you gain momentum and get an incredible adrenalin rush flying down the hill!
The Te Paki Sand Dunes can be found only a few miles off the main road to Cape Reinga. The road is unsealed, but passable with most any vehicle.
The coast at the base of the Te Paki Sand Dunes is actually part of Ninety-Mile Beach, an 88-mile long stretch of sand that is a designated highway.
You’ll need to watch the tide and must have 4WD in order to drive on the sand. Driving on Ninety-Mile Beach is prohibited by most rental car companies.
However, you can book a coach tour that will include a stop at the Cape Reinga lighthouse, sand boarding at Te Paki Dunes, driving along the Ninety-Mile beach and stopping to dig for tuatua shellfish.
While making your way down the west coast of the Northland, there are a few more worthwhile stops that we didn’t have time to visit but we would love to go back and check out someday.
The Koutu Boulders are a natural phenomenon similar to the mysterious Moeraki Boulders. And the Waipoua Forest is home to the Tane Mahuta, the largest known living kauri tree. And just south of Waipoua you’ll find Kai Iwi Lakes with crystal clear water and white sandy beaches.
While there is so much to do in this region, I hope that this list of 9 of the best things to do in Northland New Zealand will help as you plan your trip!
And be sure to check out our other New Zealand travel guides for more of our favorite destinations!
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