By no means is Cape Reinga the northernmost part of New Zealand’s North Island. North Cape, 30 kilometres east of Reinga, is more northerly but less accessible.
If you’re taking a bus tour -- and they start from Kaitaia, Doubtless Bay, or Paihia or Kerikeri on the Bay of Islands -- you’ll usually be going through Ninety Mile Beach to Cape Reinga along the western coast of the Aupouri Peninsula at the northern tip of the North Island, more popularly known as Northland.
Challenge of distance
Whoever named Ninety Mile Beach must have walked it and felt the overpowering challenge of the distance, or used the wrong yardstick. The beach doesn’t go for 90 miles. It’s more like 90 kilometres or 56 miles -- but still as long or as far as the eye can see.
The Aupouri Forest
Covering two thirds of the peninsula on the western side is the Aupouri Forest which is 75 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide. This used to be a forest of kauri trees, but is now mostly of pine which is grown for timber.
Private reserve and public land
A volcanic rock formation called The Bluff lies on the northern edge of the forest. This is part of a private reserve used for fishing by the Maori tribe in Te Kao.
Public land exists north of The Bluff. Be awed by the giant sand dunes on either side of the mouth of the Te Paki Stream.
Next page: Getting There
