5 Day Travel Itinerary:
Auckland to Cape Reinga
Any trip to New Zealand will probably include Northland, which is the strip of land north of Auckland. Known for its beaches and sub-tropical climate, Northland is colloquially known as the “Winterless North.” To take in the best of the north, either for a long weekend or an extended adventure, the Cape Reinga travel itinerary is a classic road trip and is a must-do when visiting New Zealand.
Don’t let this small piece of land fool you; the winding roads and intermittent passing lanes make this a long road trip once you leave Auckland. However, this 5-day, 4-night Auckland to Cape Reinga travel itinerary provides plenty of time to enjoy the scenery from the road and the beach.
It’s worth noting that Northland is quite popular and has some standard tourist destinations (such as Paihia). However, we have skipped those and focused on the more obscure locations that give you the backcountry experience.
Cape Reinga Travel Route
Auckland to Cape Reinga Day 1:
Auckland to Aroha Island
Distance: 260 Kilometres
Time: 3.5 Hours
Grab a coffee for this part of the journey as we found it best to drive the most on the first day to get out of the city. State Highway 1 out of Auckland starts as a motorway but soon turns to a two-lane winding road. To break up this trip, a nice place to stop is the waterfront in Whangarei. Whangarei is the only city in Northland and offers a boast of cafes and eateries in the waterfront ‘Town Basin’. Once you continue on, the road becomes less busy as you head towards the Bay of Islands. Just past Kerikeri is the first stop; Aroha Island.
Aroha Island is connected to the mainland by a small causeway that enables car access, is covered in native bush and has a lovely waterfront campground. Drive down into this campground, find a nice patch of grass next to the water, and stay for the night. The island is home to 2 Kiwis and is one of the best places to spot kiwi in the wild. The owners will give you tips on the best places to spot the elusive national bird, but we found picking a place in the bush and waiting for them to come to us worked best. We brought camping chairs and a bottle of wine, went out after sunset and just waited. We were lucky enough to see both the resident kiwis on our last visit.
Auckland to Cape Reinga Day 2:
Aroha Island to Cape Reinga
Distance: 180 Kilometres
Time: 2.5 Hours
This next leg of the journey is remote, particularly after you pass Kaitaia. The road is the same two-lane winding road, with the added exception of significantly less traffic. Once you enter the peninsula, it’s a pleasant, winding drive on a ridge all the way to Cape Reinga. Our second stop is a Department of Conservation (NZ government) campground called Tapotupotu. This campground is beautiful and remote (northernmost campground), with plenty of space, long drop toilets, and cold showers. You’ll feel as remote as you actually are. Two perks of this campsite are the sandy river (on sunny days providing warmer water), and a short 2-hour hike to Cape Reinga Lighthouse. This coastal walk offers views, another beach and ultimately pops out with the tourists. Cape Reinga and this campground are still highlights of my time in New Zealand
Auckland to Cape Reinga: Cape Reinga Lighthouse
Auckland to Cape Reinga Day 3:
Cape Reinga to Ahipara
Distance: 110 Kilometres
Time: 1.5 Hours
Day 3 has you leaving Cape Reinga and driving back down the peninsula to visit the third stop on this itinerary in Ahipara. En route, it might be worth stopping to give sand boarding a try at the Te Paki sand dunes. Boards are available to rent or bring your own, but note this experience is quite tiring and not likely to last more than a few hours. Ahipara is a small town on the southern end of 90-mile beach. Spend the night at Endless Summer Lodge in Ahipara, a beautifully renovated beachfront Kauri villa from the 1870’s. With hammocks and vines littering the property, this hotel is directly across the road from the beach and offers surf lessons. We loved this place so much we stayed two extra nights.
Auckland to Cape Reinga: Endless Summer Lodge front step
Auckland to Cape Reinga Day 4:
Ahipara to Kai Iwi Lakes
Distance: 200 Kilometres
Time: 3 Hours
Making your way south from Ahipara, you have a choice of route. One option is to drive around the Hokianga Harbour, but we recommend taking the car ferry across to Rawene.This shortcut saves time and enables you to drive through the Kauri forest to visit Tane Mahuta, an ancient Kauri tree a short walk from the road. Other stops along the way include Kauri wood-work shops, with lovely pieces of art made from ancient swamp Kauri (it’s illegal to chop down a Kauri tree). Driving further south, you’ll find yourself at the third stop, Kai Iwi Lakes. These lakes are close to the ocean but are a sight of their own. Spectacularly clean and clear, Kai Iwi lakes provide a refreshing swim after any car trip. There are two campsites, but Kai Iwi Lakes Promenade Point campsite is recommended. The other campsite has coin showers, but these are accessible to anyone.
Auckland to Cape Reinga Day 5:
Kai Iwi Lakes to Auckland
Distance: 210 Kilometres
Time: 3 Hours
The trip back home is short and sweet, so have a lie in and relax next to the lakes. Dargaville has all of the basics as you pass through, so it’s a good place to grab a coffee and a snack. There are a few more Kauri woodworkers in Dargaville to browse should you have the time. Otherwise, continue on and safely return back to Auckland. Please note that many Aucklanders head north themselves on the weekends, so if you choose to end the trip on a Sunday, there will undoubtedly be a load of traffic. In this case, before 3pm or after 7pm are the best times to travel.
More travel itineraries are available on the Travel Tips page.