Discover the Far North of New Zealand

About Discover the Far North of New Zealand

The Far North feels shaped by wind, ocean and story. Along Ninety Mile Beach, the Tasman Sea rolls beside a wide, unbroken sweep of sand, while dunes rise beyond the shore and the landscape seems to stretch without end. At Cape Reinga, the lighthouse looks out over the place where two oceans meet, creating one of the Far North’s most recognisable and memorable views.

The Story of This Place

The journey to Cape Reinga reveals the vast scale and character of New Zealand’s Far North. Ninety Mile Beach follows a vast Far North coastline treasured by local Māori communities and woven into the cultural identity of the region. Its sweeping sand, towering dunes and ocean views have made it one of the region’s most recognisable visitor experiences.

With its remote setting and iconic lighthouse, Cape Reinga has become an enduring destination for those travelling to the top of New Zealand, while its significance as the departure point for spirits on their journey to Hawaiki gives the landscape a deeper meaning.

Cultural Significance

Cape Reinga, also known as Te Rerenga Wairua, holds deep significance in Māori tradition. It is believed to be the place where the spirits of the deceased begin their final journey to Hawaiki, the ancestral homeland. The spirits are said to descend by the roots of an ancient pōhutukawa tree at the cape before departing the mainland. Believed to be over 800 years old, the tree remains a powerful symbol of the cape’s deep spiritual significance.

The Experience of Visiting

This full-day experience takes guests through the wild beauty of the Far North, travelling by coach towards Cape Reinga and along the sand-swept shore of Ninety Mile Beach. Along the way, guests can try sandboarding down dunes, enjoy a picnic lunch, and take in the vast scale of the beach drive. At Cape Reinga, the highlight is standing beneath the famous lighthouse, where sweeping views look out towards the meeting point of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean. A knowledgeable local guide shares stories and insights throughout the day, bringing the region’s history, culture and landscape to life.

Natural Features

The Far North is defined by scale and contrast: sweeping beach, towering sand dunes, open sky and the meeting of two great bodies of water. At Cape Reinga, the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean collide below the headland, while Ninety Mile Beach stretches along the western coast in a vast ribbon of sand. The journey also reveals the wild coastal character of the region, from wind-shaped dunes to the remote views surrounding the Cape Reinga lighthouse.

Stories Shared Along the Way

A knowledgeable local guide shares stories and insights throughout the day, helping guests understand the history, culture and landscape of the Far North. The guided commentary adds context to the journey, from the drive along Ninety Mile Beach to the arrival at Cape Reinga and its famous lighthouse.

Little-Known Facts

Although Cape Reinga is often described as the northernmost tip of New Zealand, North Cape is actually further north. North Cape is a scientific reserve and not open to the public, which is why Cape Reinga is widely experienced as the symbolic “end of the road” for visitors travelling through the Far North.

The Cape Reinga Lighthouse was first lit in 1941 and was the last watched lighthouse built in New Zealand. It replaced an earlier lighthouse on nearby Motuopao Island, where rough seas made access difficult for lighthouse keepers and their families.