Auckland to Northland Road Trip — A Week in the Winterless North

Sights along the way

Sight photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons — see individual post credits.

Why Northland?

Northland — Te Tai Tokerau — is the "winterless north" of New Zealand. Within 3 hours of Auckland you're in sub-tropical bays, kauri forests older than the pyramids, and on the wild west-coast dunes of Ninety Mile Beach. It's the perfect first road trip from Auckland.

Pick your car up from our Auckland depot in Beachlands or use the free shuttle from Auckland Airport to our Clevedon yard, and you're on the road in under 30 minutes.

Day 1 — Auckland to Whangarei (2 hr 15 min) Head north on SH1. Stop at **Waipu Cove** for a swim and lunch. In Whangarei, walk the Hātea Loop and the Town Basin. Overnight in Whangarei or push on to the Tutukaka Coast.

Day 2 — Tutukaka Coast & Poor Knights Islands A short 30-minute drive east of Whangarei. The Poor Knights Islands marine reserve has some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world (Jacques Cousteau rated it top 10). Day trips run from Tutukaka Marina.

Day 3 — Tutukaka to Paihia (1 hr 30 min) Drive up to the **Bay of Islands**. Afternoon: a Hole in the Rock cruise or dolphin watching. Sunset over Paihia.

Day 4 — Russell & Waitangi Ferry to **Russell** for breakfast, walk Flagstaff Hill, then visit the **Waitangi Treaty Grounds** — the most important historical site in NZ. Evening: kayak the mangroves at Haruru Falls.

Day 5 — Paihia to Cape Reinga (3 hr each way) or stay Kaitaia The drive north to **Cape Reinga** — where the Pacific meets the Tasman — is one of NZ's great pilgrimages. Many tours combine Cape Reinga with sandboarding the Te Paki dunes and a drive along **Ninety Mile Beach**. Note: Ninety Mile Beach itself is **off-limits to rental cars** — it's officially a highway but soft sand will swallow a 2WD in minutes, and your insurance won't cover it. Take a bus tour from Kaitaia or Paihia for the beach section.

Day 6 — Hokianga & Waipoua Forest (3 hr) Cross to the west coast via Kaikohe. **Hokianga Harbour** is a slow, soulful stop — stay in Opononi or Omapere. Then south through **Waipoua Forest** to meet **Tāne Mahuta**, the 2,000-year-old "Lord of the Forest" kauri tree. A short, accessible walk — humbling.

Day 7 — Hokianga to Auckland (4 hr 30 min) Stop at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe and Matakana Village for lunch and the Saturday farmers' market. Drop the car back at Beachlands.

What car should I rent?

For a couple, our economy car handles the trip easily. For families or anyone tackling the gravel roads to Cape Reinga viewpoints, a mid-size SUV is more comfortable. Surfing the east coast or carrying boards? Our 7 seater SUV comes with roof racks fitted free — perfect for boards heading to Sandy Bay or Shipwreck.

Plan more

• Central North Island loop from Auckland
• Best surf spots within reach of Auckland
• Full North Island itinerary (10 days)

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