About Northland
Appropriately, Northland is New Zealand's northernmost province. It encompasses the city of Whangarei and the Far North and Bay of Islands regions. Being the narrowest part of the country's two islands, it boasts a magnificent coastline, numerous beaches and many bays.
It is no surprise, therefore, that visitors make the most of the aquatic and marine facilities available for, by international standards, the waters are clean, the sea and bird life abundant, and the weather perfect.
Travel around Northland is easy. A comprehensive roading network allows visitors to drive themselves or make use of the many available bus services. Scheduled flights also run between Auckland and Whangarei, Kerikeri and Kaitaia. Most towns have visitor information centres but local people can also be a great source of knowledge about the area.
The bus service travels to Cape Reinga via Ninety Mile Beach, a spectacular west coast beach offering unparalleled surfing, fishing, boating and swimming opportunities.
The largest town in these parts is Kaitaia, the area's commercial hub. Along with all the facilities you would expect from a regional service centre (banks, shops, cafés and visitor information centre), a well-organised museum houses hundreds of old photographs of the area, giant moa bones (the moa is a giant flightless bird, now extinct) and treasures salvaged from the many shipwrecks.
Nearby, a glowworm grotto is the main attraction of Sullivan's Nocturnal Park, where New Zealand's native flightless bird, the kiwi, can also be seen. Visitors should not miss the Wagener Park Historic Homestead Museum, Gumdiggers Park, an authentic 100-year old gum field and ancient buried kauri (a large native tree) forest, or the Ancient Kauri Kingdom at Awanui where wood products, furniture and crafts made from ancient kauri are for sale.
It is no surprise, therefore, that visitors make the most of the aquatic and marine facilities available for, by international standards, the waters are clean, the sea and bird life abundant, and the weather perfect.
Travel around Northland is easy. A comprehensive roading network allows visitors to drive themselves or make use of the many available bus services. Scheduled flights also run between Auckland and Whangarei, Kerikeri and Kaitaia. Most towns have visitor information centres but local people can also be a great source of knowledge about the area.
| Kaitaia and The Far North The Far North is full of historic sights - both natural and manmade. The most famous is undoubtedly Cape Reinga, the country's northernmost tip, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean with dramatic results. A magnet for tourists, Cape Reinga and its landmark lighthouse are easily accessible by car or bus. |  Cape Reinga, the northernmost tip of New Zealand |
The bus service travels to Cape Reinga via Ninety Mile Beach, a spectacular west coast beach offering unparalleled surfing, fishing, boating and swimming opportunities.
The largest town in these parts is Kaitaia, the area's commercial hub. Along with all the facilities you would expect from a regional service centre (banks, shops, cafés and visitor information centre), a well-organised museum houses hundreds of old photographs of the area, giant moa bones (the moa is a giant flightless bird, now extinct) and treasures salvaged from the many shipwrecks.
Nearby, a glowworm grotto is the main attraction of Sullivan's Nocturnal Park, where New Zealand's native flightless bird, the kiwi, can also be seen. Visitors should not miss the Wagener Park Historic Homestead Museum, Gumdiggers Park, an authentic 100-year old gum field and ancient buried kauri (a large native tree) forest, or the Ancient Kauri Kingdom at Awanui where wood products, furniture and crafts made from ancient kauri are for sale.
| Matai Bay is one of Northland's most scenic beach resorts. Located out close to the end of the Karikari Peninsular, Matai is still one of the Far North's lesser known beaches but, to those who visit it, it is certainly one of the area's gems. Consisting of two crescent shaped coves, Matai Beach's clear blue waters offer much to those who delight in the sea. It is about an hour's drive north of Kerikeri. |  Matai Bay in the Far North (click to enlarge) |
 | New Zealand is renowned for its adventure activities and nowhere are these more numerous than the Far North. The almost endless range includes four-wheel drive tours, hang gliding, land yachting, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, water-skiing, and scuba diving. And, for those with more traditional tourist tastes, fishing, golf and tramping are popular. |