Wanting to take a day trip from Paihia to the northernmost point of New Zealand, Cape Reinga? I went on a guided tour to Cape Reinga, but you can easily do this on your own, you just have to make your entertaining commentary that replaces the coach driver.
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If you are travelling around New Zealand, the best way is by car. Not only do you get to see more but you will find more hidden gems that the average traveller doesn’t see.
Need a Car?
If you want to book a car, you can try using one of these car rental websites, EconomyBookings.com, DiscoverCars, Expedia or RentalCars.
Need Accommodation?
Try using these accommodation websites to find a comfortable place to sleep after your day exploring, Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia.
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Tour To Cape Reinga From Paihia
Our day starts with a pick-up from your accommodation in Paihia. With four busloads of people heading north, it could get a bit busy, but soon enough, we’re on our way and ready for a big day exploring the top of New Zealand.
Ninety Mile Beach
The first stop is a morning tea break, then it’s onto 90 Mile Beach. Driving on the beach is a bit of a novelty for most visitors. It doesn’t take long for the photo stop on the beach, and today the weather doesn’t disappoint with the wind whipping straight off the Tasman Sea. A couple of other vehicles are also on the beach, but otherwise, it’s a pretty quiet morning on this sandy “highway”.
Cape Reinga
We can’t go all the way to the Te Paki Sand Dunes from the beach as conditions have changed. The last thing we need is to get bogged in the sand, so it’s onward and upward to Cape Reinga.
This spiritual place for Maori is not only the Northernmost point in New Zealand we go to today but also where we can see the meeting of the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. The spiritual part for Maori is the sight of the Pohutukawa Tree clinging onto the rock at the end of the land (see the main photo at the top of this post). The Maori believe their spirits will descend into the underworld to return to their homeland of Hawaiki via the roots of this Pohutukawa Tree. An interesting side note is that the tree never blossoms like all the other Pohutukawa in New Zealand.
Te Paki Sand Dunes
After our walk back from the lighthouse on the tour to Cape Reinga, we head to the Te Paki Sand Dunes via the Te Paki Stream. Once again, most visitors wouldn’t think a stream is a road, but it is in this case. It’s what we use to take us to the point they use for sand tobogganing. Some people take it a bit cautiously down the slope. Others get very wet from the stream about 10 metres from the foot of the dunes.
Houhora Heads
Back on the bus for another 1-1½ drive to our lunch stop at Houhora Heads. Our lunch for the tour to Cape Reinga is Fish and Chips by the Sea. By now the sun is out, and the colours coming off the water are beautiful. The Kauri Workshop is the next stop where we have afternoon tea and look over beautiful wooden furniture and carvings.
Puketi Forest
Our last stop of the day on our tour to Cape Reinga is the Puketi Forest, where we see real Kauri still standing tall after hundreds of years. To walk through this magical place is a privilege, as they are in danger at the moment from Dieback disease, but with a specially built boardwalk to walk through, they should be safe hopefully for generations to come.
We arrived back in Paihia before 6 pm, a long day, but well worth the trip as so much was seen and learnt in such a short time.
I did my day tour to Cape Reinga from Paihia with Fullers Great Sights and took the Combo tour combining the Tour to Cape Reinga with the Cream Trip in the Bay of Islands out of Paihia.
You can read about my blog 1 Amazing Day on the Bay Cream Trip, Bay of Islands NZ by clicking the link.
Where I Stayed
I stayed in the Paihia YHA, Bay of Island Lodge, which is close to everything in Paihia.
This sustainable youth hostel has solar power, private or dorm rooms, and a large courtyard with picnic tables, where you can swap stories with your fellow travellers at the end of the day.
It’s a short walk to the shops in Paihia, cruises or the beach and only three and a half km to Waitangi.
Facilities
- Solar Powered
- Free Wifi
- Free Onsite Car Parking
- Communal Kitchen (with food storage area), Dining and Lounge Rooms
- Recycling Stations
- Herb Garden
- Outdoor area with BBQ
- Games and Book Exchange
- Laundry Facilities
- Wheelchair Accessible
- 24-Hour Guest Access and After-hours Check-in on Request
- Hair Dryers
- Towel Hire
- Hot Water Bottles
- Travel and Activity Bookings
I have stayed here twice now and would highly recommend it. You feel as though you have a home away from home.
Where I Stayed
I stayed in the Paihia YHA, Bay of Island Lodge, which is close to everything in Paihia.
This sustainable youth hostel has solar power, private or dorm rooms, and a large courtyard with picnic tables, where you can swap stories with your fellow travellers at the end of the day.
It’s a short walk to the shops in Paihia, cruises or the beach and only three and a half km to Waitangi.
Facilities
- Solar Powered
- Free Wifi
- Free Onsite Car Parking
- Communal Kitchen (with food storage area), Dining and Lounge Rooms
- Recycling Stations
- Herb Garden
- Outdoor area with BBQ
- Games and Book Exchange
- Laundry Facilities
- Wheelchair Accessible
- 24-Hour Guest Access and After-hours Check-in on Request
- Hair Dryers
- Towel Hire
- Hot Water Bottles
- Travel and Activity Bookings
I have stayed here twice now and would highly recommend it. You feel as though you have a home away from home.
How To Get Here
The Bay of Islands Lodge is at 11 MacMurray Road, Paihia.
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Links
If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links; Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art, or if you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Photography, you can click on their links.
Travel Resources
- Flights, Accommodation & Car Hire – You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Hopper and WayAway, which has 5% cashback.
- Car Hire – Take to the open road with great deals from EconomyBookings.com, RentalCars.com and DiscoverCars.
- Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe – Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and train travel in the UK and Europe.
- Travel Insurance – is your number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master and Insubuy are invaluable in keeping you insured during your travels.
- Attractions – buy before you leave home with these great sites, Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
- House Sitting – is a great way to save on accommodation and Trusted Housesitters has house sits all around the world for you to try.
- Photo Editing – is a great way to bring your photos to life and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
- Visa Applications – apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
- Sim cards – Try Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).
If you want more tips, try my Travel Links and Resource page.
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Loved my time in the Bay of Islands it’s a beautiful part of the world even though I never saw everything you did but reading through the blog felt like I was on the journey once again beautiful photos
Thanks Kathy. I’m glad you got the feeling you were there too.
We really enjoyed our visit to Cape Reinga…we were lucky to have great weather too. A stunning place and I would love to visit again.
I hope that you do get to revisit, Laureen.