See the Sights in Seven Days
Explore in Seven Days
Travel itinerary
Got a week to spend chasing adventure in Taitokerau Northland? Here's how we'd suggest filling it.
Day 1
Auckland to Whangārei
Driving north out of Auckland, you'll hit a fork in the road (figuratively speaking). Stay on State Highway 1 for sweeping views over Whangārei Heads and Bream Bay from the Brynderwyns, or take the slower route through Mangawhai and Waipu, stringing together one sandy beach after another. Either way, Waipu is worth a stop, a Scottish-settler town with a beloved pizza spot and a scenic coastal path. Bed down for the night at Camp Waipu Cove, or push on to Whangārei.
Day 2
Adventure in Whangārei
Whangārei quietly punches above its weight as a family adventure hub. Between the country's only monster scooter park, a treetop obstacle course through the forest canopy, and an inflatable water park, you'll be spoiled for choice. Wrap up the day on the Tutukākā Coast, once named among the world's best coastal destinations by National Geographic Traveller.
Day 3
Tutukākā Coast to the Bay of Islands
Spend the day cruising out to the Poor Knights Islands, a marine reserve teeming with life above and below the waterline, home to the world's largest sea cave. Paddleboard, snorkel, swim, or just soak it in. Back on shore, continue north, either straight up State Highway 1 to Paihia, or via the quieter Secret Coast Route to Russell.
Day 4
A Full Day in the Bay
Kick off with a cruise out to the iconic Hole in the Rock at Cape Brett, keeping an eye out for dolphins and whales along the way, with a stop at Otehei Bay. Back on land, head to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, birthplace of New Zealand's founding document. A guided tour brings the history to life with storytelling and cultural performance, and entry covers the museums, forest trails, carving studio demonstrations, and on-site café.
Day 5
Bay of Islands to the Far North
Head north, pausing at Rainbow Falls in Kerikeri before following State Highway 10 through Doubtless Bay — grab famous fish and chips in Mangonui or ice cream at Cable Bay. Push on to the very top of the country to Cape Reinga, where two oceans meet and a solitary pōhutukawa marks the spot said to be where spirits depart for Hawaiki. On the way back, take a boogie board and try sandboarding down the Te Paki dunes, then overnight at Doubtless Bay or Ahipara.
Day 6
Far North to the Hokianga
Detour via Ngawha Springs, Northland's only geothermal hot pools, for a soak to suit any temperature preference. Heading west, consider a stop at the Wairere Boulders or a wander through the historic towns of Rāwene and Kohukohu. Finish in Opononi and Ōmāpere, where you can explore the new Manea Footprints of Kupe experience or watch the forest change at dusk on the Waipoua Twilight Tour. Stay locally or continue to the Kauri Coast Top 10 Holiday Park.
Day 7
The Ancient Kauri Trail
This route runs from the Hokianga down to Maungaturoto, taking in ancient forests like Waipoua and Trounson, where centuries-old kauri trees still stand. Round it out with a visit to the Kauri Museum in Matakohe to learn about the region's timber and gum-digging history, and a stop at Eutopia Café in Kaiwaka for good coffee and food before heading home.