Northland Itinerary

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Day 1

Arrive in Whangarei and start explorations at the Town Basin. Sample the shops and eateries or visit the art galleries and museums, such as Clapham's Clocks. Have lunch here and perhaps take a cruise.
Walk to Cafler Park in the heart of the city on First Avenue and take a stroll through the Fernery Filmy Fernhouse Conservatory and Cactus House. Take in the Whangarei Art Museum, with its displays of heritage and contemporary works.
A short walk away is the Strand, which has a mix of gift shops and fashion outlets. Enjoy afternoon tea and a browse here.
Return to the Town Basin to dine, or try an inner-city restaurant such as the Killer Prawn.
Stay overnight in Whangarei with Host Accommodation.

Day 2

An early start will allow a stop-over at picturesque Whangarei Falls on the way to the scenic Tutukaka Coast, famous as a base for deep sea fishing and diving.
Book a scenic or fishing trip with Delray Charters or the Whangarei Deep Sea Angler's Club. Diving around the spectacular Poor Knights Islands can be organised through Dive Tutukaka and Knightline.
Drive to Paihia
Stay overnight in Paihia with Host Accommodation.

Day 3

Head across to Russell by ferry for the morning and explore the township's numerous historic buildings, such as Pompallier House and the Russell Museum.
Walk up Flagstaff (Maiki) Hill and read of the flagstaff's history and the exploits of Maori chief Hone Heke, who cut the previous four down in protest.
Return to the waterfront for lunch.
Cross again to Paihia and take a stroll along the beachfront to Waitangi. Discover the shipwreck relics at Kelly Tarlton's Shipwreck Museum or stop for coffee at Waikokopu Cafe in the grounds of the Waitangi Treaty House.
Take a tour of the historic Waitangi Treaty House. Explore the marae (meeting house) and grounds.
Have dinner in Paihia or take the ferry to Russell and dine at the atmospheric Duke of Marlborough, the first hotel in New Zealand to receive a licence.
Stay overnight in Paihia with Host Accommodation.

Day 4

Spend a half or full day on the water. Activities to choose from include swimming with the dolphins, the Cape Brett 'Hole in the Rock' cruise, the Cream Trip cruise or sailing on the tall ship R Tucker Thomson. Dolphin Discoveries also offer swimming with dolphins. Lunch is often included during an island stopover.
If on a half-day outing, return to Paihia and stop for lunch one of the many cafés. Afterwards enjoy an afternoon's shopping at Paihia. The Cabbage Tree is an award-winning outlet and a good place for NZ souvenirs.
Drive to Kerikeri.
Stay overnight in Kerikeri with Host Accommodation.

Day 5

Visit Kerikeri Historic Basin and see some of New Zealand's oldest buildings. Take a tour of Kemp House, the oldest surviving European building in New Zealand. Also worth a look are the Stone Store and Rewa's Village, a reconstructed Maori village.
Enjoy a scenic bushwalk to the 20m Kerikeri (Rainbow) Falls, 2km upstream from the Basin.
Pick up an arts and craft trail brochure. For lunch try the Marsden Estate winery or one of the many outdoor cafes along the trail.
Spend the rest of the afternoon tailoring visits to the various arts and craft outlets. Call at some of the roadside fruit stalls to sample the area's fine produce.
Stay overnight in Kerikeri with Host Accommodation.

Day 6

Follow State Highway 10 to Kaitaia, a base for tours to Ninety Mile Beach and Cape Reinga.
Drive or take a tour to New Zealand's most northerly point, Cape Reinga. Operators include Sand Safaris, Harrisons Cape Runner and Tua Tua Tours. Pack a picnic lunch if driving yourself.
Call at Wagener Park & Museum (1 hour) at Houhora Heads, 40km north of Kaitaia and take morning tea at its beachfront licensed café.
Continue northwards to the famous lighthouse at Cape Reinga (114km north-west of Kaitaia). New Zealand's northernmost point overlooks the convergence of Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean.
Return to Te Paki, which has impressive sand dunes. Many tour companies supply toboggans and all supply lunch.
Return to Kaitaia and visit the Ancient Kauri Kingdom, with its wood crafts and cafe. Call at the Nocturnal Park which features kiwis, glow-worms, and bush walks to a stream with short-fin eels. Night tours start at dark.
Stay overnight in Kaitaia with Host Accommodation.

Day 7

Once again, head towards Ahipara to regain State Highway 12.
Head southwards to Kohukohu for the crossing to Rawene on the vehicle ferry Kohu Ra Tuarua.
Call at Rawene's historic Clendon House or take a cruise on the Alma Working Museum.
Walk the newly completed mangrove walk and stop for morning tea at the Boatshed Café and Crafts.
Continue southwards to the twin settlements of Opononi and Omapere, which access the sand dunes across the inlet.
Lunch at either centre.
Continue southwards, driving through the Waipoua Forest and taking a side-trip to visit the 2000-year-old kauri tree Tane Mahuta. A variety of forest and coastal walks are available, ranging from 20 minutes to a few hours.
Drive along State Highway 12 to the Kauri Museum, which features displays about the kauri tree, its gum and timber and pioneering history.
Drive to Orewa.
Stay overnight at Orewa Beach with Host Accommodation.

Day 8