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Russell, Bay of Islands - Source: Thinkstock
The oldest tree, the best fish and chips and more beaches than
you can shake a jandal at - New Zealand's Northland has
holiday-makers spoilt for choice.
Here are some of the highlights of a trip to the so-called
winterless north, found just a few hours from
Auckland:
- Scoot from coast to coast: Northland is a
super-skinny peninsula with rugged west coast beaches and luscious
sheltered east coast coves just an hour apart.
The close proximity of these two vastly different coasts offer up a
huge range of activities from surfing and kite-boarding to diving
and dolphin-watching, all within a stone's throw of one
another.
Take the hour-long drive east to west from beautiful Matai Bay to
Ahipara for the sharpest contrast. Or for the biggest buzz drive to
the tip, Cape Reinga, to see where the two oceans collide.
- Swim at Matai Bay: Arguably Northland's most
beautiful beach, Matai Bay is two horse shoe-shaped coves that look
out to the Pacific Ocean.
The swimming, snorkelling and diving is fantastic here, and stay in
the Department of Conservation campground for a close and cheap
encounter with this magical place.
The bay is perched at the end of the remote Karikari Peninsula,
which is home to several long and sparsely populated beaches, a
coastal golf club and a five-star resort, Carrington.
The breath-taking view from the resort's pizza restaurant and
winery is not to be missed.
Ask locals to point you in the direction of Coca Cola Lake, a
peat-soaked pool well worth having a dip in.
- Hug a tree in the Waipoua Forest: A close
encounter with the world's tallest Kauri tree, Tane Mahuta, is
bound to impress.
Standing 51 metres tall, Tane is thought to be about 2,000 years
old.
"Not a bad innings, aye," says the Maori local who guided us
through the ancient forest on the peninsula's west coast.
Unfortunately decades of logging have left him with few fellow
Kauri for company.
Visit Tane and the older but more squat Te Matua Ngahere on a night
tour with knowledgeable guides at Footprints Waipoua, or stroll the
track independently.
- Eat fish and chips in Mangonui: The tiny town of Mangonui might be too small for a supermarket but it boasts one of the best fish and chip shops in the country.
No trip to Northland would be complete without stopping off to
sample their delicious snapper burgers.
This quiet seaside village has other things going for it too, like
the homely old-fashioned pub for jugs of cold brew and the stylish
Waterfront Cafe for city-style fare.
- See Poor Knights Islands: Locals (and the
late Jacques Cousteau) claim the Poor Knights Islands offer the
best sub-tropical diving in the world but please make the trip out
there even if you don't fancy getting wet.
The islands, off the east coast settlement of Tutukaka, are a
marine reserve home to an amazing array of sea and bird life and
super-sized flora and fauna.
A tragic Maori tale of a massacre in the early 1800s makes the
place even more intriguing.
Get out there on a Perfect Day Ocean Cruise, a full-day excursion
with great food and friendly fun crew.
- Visit the old Wellington: The gem in
Northland's stone, the Bay of Islands on the east coast, is
internationally-celebrated for its 144 tiny isles and handful of
seaside settlements.
One of the loveliest would have to be Russell, New Zealand's first
capital, where a pocket of heritage-listed properties line a long,
flat foreshore.
Make a day-trip by ferry from busier Paihia or stay a night or two
in one of the many quaint bed and breakfasts in the old town.
