From Auckland through State Highway 1, it is 440 kilometres to Cape Reinga, 324 to Kaitia.
Air New Zealand flies daily to Kaitia. Express coach travel is available, or you can drive.
Kaitia to Ahipara
To go through Ninety Mile Beach, travel from Kaitia to Ahipara, and on to Ninety Mile Beach. If you’re using a rental car, note that you probably are prohibited from driving on the beach and there’s no insurance cover for driving there.
There may be soft spots in the sand of Ninety Mile Beach where even a four-wheel-drive can get bogged down inextricably. If going by motorbike, be wary of possibly dangerous stretches.
Surfing and surfcasting
There are good surfing beaches as well as idyllic surfcasting areas. Away from Ninety Mile Beach are forests to explore.
If traveling on your own, go well-provisioned and prepared for any emergency, as there may be no other soul around for miles.
Columbia Bank maelstrom
At Cape Reinga visit the lighthouse to see the clash of waves in the Columbia Bank maelstrom.
You’ll feel at land’s end where the water seems suddenly all set to engulf you.
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- Photo courtesy of Destination Northland © Destination Northland
