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| Kaitaia is the northern-most
town of New Zealand. It is central to all of the good tourist
spots of the Far North and has buses leaving daily for Cape
Reinga and most of the settlements on the way.
We can help with bookings and recommendations.
Contact us
for further information.
Begin your holiday with a trip to Cape
Reinga where, along the way, you can capture the history
of the Kauri Tree. Visualise the hardships endured by the
gum diggers as you wander through Gum
Diggers Park and then see the finished product at the
Ancient Kauri Kingdom.
You will experience all the emotions of being part of nature
as you watch the two oceans meet at Cape Reinga before moving
on to Te Paki Stream where you can sand-board
down the magnificent sand dunes or just take in the unbelievable
desert landscape.
Just when you think that this is all too much, head home
to Plane Tree Lodge via a unique drive down the length of
Ninety Mile Beach.
And that is just day one!
On other days you can visit Bay of Islands and enjoy a boat
trip taking in the beautiful scenery, soaking up the holiday
atmosphere, before heading home along the east coast checking
out the numerous beautiful beaches and bays.
For the more adventurous why not try quad
bike riding through the desert-like sand dunes and along
the beaches or horse riding along the beach and through the
forest. Why not try game fishing or
swimming with the dolphins. For the golf enthusiast, we have
two world class golf courses within easy reach.
Each day return to the peace and serenity of Plane Tree Lodge,
wash the sand from your hair and enjoy a delicious meal at
one of our local restaurants. Alternatively, savour a glass
of wine in the spa pool and re-live you day in the deepening
twilight of a peaceful country landscape. |
| Some local
attractions that come highly recommended: |
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CAPE
REINGA - A dramatic sight!
Feel the wind in your face. Hear the roar of the sea.
Know in your bones the very power of Nature.
Look to the north from Cape Reinga and view the Columbia
Bank maelstrom -- where the Tasman and the Pacific meet
-- with waves, in stormy weather, rising to peaks of
up to 10 metres.
This is the most visited lighthouse in New Zealand,
not because of the lighthouse itself, but rather because
of the geographic location and spiritual associations.
In Maori belief, Cape Reinga, along with nearby Spirits
Bay, is the departure place for the spirits of the recently
deceased.
On their way, they are believed to climb
down the twisted pohutukawa tree on the cliff.
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Your camera will whirl, capturing spectacular sunsets
and beach scenes.
On your visit to this beautiful part of New Zealand,
you will enjoy every moment that this 'natural theme
park built by nature' has to offer.
With dunes to explore, fish to catch, surf to ride
and welcoming locals to meet, your stay is sure to be
a memorable one.
Here you can be as alone with Nature as nowhere else,
with only the sound of the waves and the rustle of winds
in the trees to keep you company in a contemplation
of how glorious, even in the encompassing solitude,
Nature can be.
For those seeking a quiet communion with Nature, there
may be no better place than this.
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| Ninety
Mile Beach
Taking a drive up Ninety Mile Beach is an awesome experience.
With tuatua (shellfish) to gather at low tide, and
the landscape to view, the trip is more than worthwhile.
This is the only beach in New Zealand that is classed
as an open road.
You can drive, motorcycle, quad bike or walk through
Ninety Mile Beach, which is also known as the "Long
Beach of Tohe."
Take your time, fish, walk on the sand, explore the
forests. Or take a bus tour.
Aupouri Forest
Covering two thirds of the peninsula on the western
side is the Aupouri Forest, which is 75 kilometres long
and five kilometres wide. Enjoy the solitude and if
you're lucky see the wild horses in their natural environment. |
Footsteps on 90 Mile Beach
Whoever named Ninety Mile Beach must have walked its
length 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. |
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Parengarenga Harbour
Parengarenga Harbour, near the top of the Aupouri Peninsula,
is one of the top ten harbours in the world and is truly
spectacular when viewed from above. It is the northernmost
harbour in NZ.
Its sand spit consists of almost pure quartz sand.
It is sparsely vegetated, almost totally undisturbed
and its sand can wander freely. |
Matai Bay, Karikari Peninsula
The Karikari peninsula is the playground for those
who just love beaches and is perfect for young families
or fishermen.
Each beach or bay has its own distinct personality
and special character. These vary from sheltered bays
with fine white sand to rugged rocky coastline with
pounding surf. Relax and soak up the sun in our sub-tropical
paradise. |
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Far
North Outback Adventures
http://www.farnorthtours.co.nz |
Far North Outback Adventures is a small,
locally owned and operated business specialising in eco tours
for small groups of up to five people. Frequent trips to Cape
Reinga, Ninety Mile Beach and Te Paki stream are on offer.
They have a modern air-conditioned 4WD Nissan Safari vehicle
and provide you with a quality lunch and top New Zealand wine. |
Sand
Safaris
http://www.sandsafaris.co.nz |
Take a trip to Cape
Reinga in Sand Safaris comfortable, late model, air-conditioned
coaches. Frequent stops are made throughout this relaxed full
day Safari Tour of the Aupouri Peninsula, an area of many contrasts
from desert brown sands of Ninety Mile Beach with cliff faces
drenched in wild surf to the pure white sands of Great Exhibition
Bay and rolling farm land of the interior. |
Gum
Diggers Park
http://www.gumdiggerspark.co.nz/ |
Discover the history of 'The Far North'
and the gum digging revolution that shaped the landscape, the
people and the local industries of our past as well as our modern
day lives. View the maze of giant gum holes that reveal extraordinary
kauri trees from prehistoric times and explore the mystery that
caused the destruction of these ancient forests. Situated 25
kilometres north of Kaitaia off State Highway 1, Gumdiggers
Park is a four minute detour off the main route to Cape Reinga. |
Ancient
Kauri Kingdom
http://www.ancientkauri.co.nz/ |
Located north of
Kaitaia on State Highway 1 at Awanui, the Ancient Kauri Kingdom
displays hand-crafted furniture, art, crafts and gifts from
the oldest workable timber in the world. See the amazing centrepiece
in the shop - a staircase carved within a 140 ton log. Independent
radiocarbon dating confirms that this tree had lain in a swamp
for 45,000 - 50,000 years. |
Butler
Point
http://www.butlerpoint.co.nz |
Butler Point is a privately owned 26 hectare
property at HiHi on Mangonui Harbour, east of Kaitaia. Over
the last three decades the proprietors have developed the property
into a macadamia orchard and one of the Far North's most fascinating
heritage tourism destinations. Butler House dates back to the
1840s and is furnished in early Colonial and Victorian styles.
The Whaling Museum displays a full range of authentic harpoons
and a fully equipped whaleboat as used from the whale ships. |
Mangonui
Heritage Trail
http://www.doubtlessbay.co.nz/
heritagetrail.htm |
Beginning and ending
at the Mangonui courthouse, the Mangonui Heritage Trail provides
a glimpse of the great wealth of Maori and European history
associated with the Doubtless Bay area, east of Kaitaia. The
Trail is three kilometres in length and accessible by foot or
vehicle. The average time taken to walk the trail is one and
a half hours. Walkers are advised to take the St. Andrew's walkway
up to the church and enjoy the spectacular views from above
Mangonui's waterfront. And you can always break off for 'fish
and chips' at the world-famous Mangonui Fish Shop. |
North
West 
East
South |
Tall
Tale Tours
http://www.tall-tale.co.nz/ |
At the Tuku Wairua
Centre you can take part in Marae tours,
bush walks, weaving, bone carving and wood carving.
On site, join the rangatahi (young people) at the Whakairo
(carving) and Raranga (weaving). Join in and make something
from flax, bone or wood.
Visit a Marae being constructed as well as learn Maori protocol,
tribal structure and spiritual studies. |
Okahu
Estate Vineyard and Winery
http://www.okahuestate.co.nz |
One of New Zealand's most northerly vineyards
and wineries. The winery is situated 45 kilometres west of Cable
Bay on the road from Kaitaia to Ahipara which is at the southern
end of Ninety Mile Beach. The first vines were established in
1984 by vineyard owner Monty Knight. Since then the label has
earned a reputation for consistent quality, winning numerous
awards including a number of gold medals. |
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Sport fishing
The LION RED SNAPPER CLASSIC is now recognised as
the biggest and most lucrative fishing contest of its
type in New Zealand attracting competitors from all
over New Zealand and Australia. |
Quad bike riding on 90 Mile Beach
Marvel at the majesty of the bleak landscape that is
the sand dunes south of Ahipara on the East Cost. Take
a guided walk or drive and experience the dunes up close.
An experience not to be missed...
Popular local pastimes are surf casting, sunbathing,
surfing, land yachting, walking, fishing, shellfish
gathering, horse riding, dune riding, body boarding,
kite flying, hang gliding and of course, relaxing. |
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| Tua Tua Tours
http://www.tuatuatours.co.nz |
Located at Ahipara, Dune Rider, Reef Rider
and Gumfields Safari tours by quad bike. All tours are under
the control of an experienced guide on latest HONDA 350 ES ATVs.
Bookings essential. |
WildCat
Fishing Charters
http://www.ahipara.co.nz/wildcat |
Big Game Fishing
full-day charters for novices or hard-core fishermen. WildCat
1 is an eight metre aluminium catamaran powered by a 200
HP outboard and cruises at 18-20 knots. The fishing grounds
off Ahipara are relatively untapped and offer some of the most
exciting nonstop action in the country. All fishing gear is
supplied or you can take your own rod and reel. For the keen-eyed,
there are dolphin and killer whales to be seen and occasionally
sperm whales. |
Wairere
Boulders
http://www.wairereboulders.co.nz/ |
The unusual Wairere Boulders are located
near Horeke, in the Hokianga Harbour south of Kaitaia. |
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Marae - a Maori meeting house
Maui and Maori history
Legend tells us that the North Island of New Zealand
is actually the world's largest fish.
Maui, a Maori hero of ancient times, hooked the enormous
fish during an expedition to prove his fishing prowess
to his jealous brothers. Infuriated by his impressive
catch, the brother beat the fish to death with their
clubs - creating the hills, mountains, plateaus and
craters that became the terrain of the North Island.
If you look at a map of the North Island, you can see
that Wellington is the head, Cape Taranaki and East
Cape are the fins, and Northland is the tail of the
fish - Te Hiku o Te Ika. |
Local people
The culture of the indigenous Maori people is still
very much alive and can be experienced right now, here
in Northland.
The Tai Tokerau peoples comprise many sub-tribes and
a number of distinctive tribes, including Ngati Whatua,
Ngati Wai, Ngati Kuri, Nga Puhi, Te Rarawa, and Te Aupouri.
Latest figures show that 32.3 percent of Northland's
population is Maori, the balance being mainly of European
origin.
There is still a strong Dalmatian influence in Dargaville
and Kaitaia as a result of immigration during the gum
digging era.
Maori girls wearing traditional costume
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