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Overview
As wonderful as Auckland is, the secret to experiencing New Zealand like a local is to head north and leave the city — a Northland road trip is an Aucklander's rite of passage. It's the best way to enjoy a patch of New Zealand that's long flown under the radar and autumn is the best time to do it. Adorned with stunning coastlines that are sensational year-round, the Far North is where you'll find an abundance of some of the nation's freshest seafood, enjoyed not too far from the source, and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where Aotearoa New Zealand as it exists today was born.
Alec McCutcheon
Eat
Parua Bay Tavern
She's a fair drive up to the tip of the North Island. The length of the journey gives you a decent excuse to stop for a while and enjoy a refreshment or two, served with fresh seafood and a ten out of ten ocean view. Parua Bay Tavern looks like a typical country pub, until you look out the back. An expansive deck covered in picnic tables sits before a rolling lawn that goes right down to the beautiful calm waters of Parua Bay — one of Whangarei Head's most picturesque spots.
Ake Ake Vineyard Restaurant
Forget to stock up on vinos for your journey north? A tad peckish from all the driving? Kill two birds with one stone at Ake Ake Vineyard Restaurant. Sit amongst the vines on a subtropical Northland night and treat yourself to an organic wine made on sight and a beautiful meal made with seasonal, local produce. You can't go wrong with the market fish or the pork belly if you're struggling to choose.
Mangonui Fish Shop
If you've tripped up to Northland and you didn't go to the Mangonui Fish Shop, your roadie doesn't even count. This place is a Northland institution serving fresh fish and chips right out over the water, in one of Northland's most quaint little historic towns. It's a tad expensive (we're talking $16.50 for a piece of snapper), so if you're on a budget pop down to Fresh and Tasty Takeaways. They're set in the Mangonui Pub (the northernmost pub in NZ) and serve fish almost as good as the fish shop at half the price. On the other hand, if you're not big on fish and chips, the Thai joint down the road does a top notch curry.
Stay
Tutukaka
On the road to the Far North, a stay in one of the beautiful little beachside settlements around Whangarei is a must. Our favourite has to be Tutukaka, one of the most idyllic coastal locations in the country, complete with postcard-worthy white sand beaches, world-class diving spots and seriously good surf beaches.
Take in the region's incredible views by staying at Canopy Camping Escapes, where the luxury tent set up blends creature comforts with proximity to nature. If you're after a wave make sure you head out to Sandy Bay — this spot looks like something straight out of a surf movie, and if you head up in autumn, or even late in summer, you may just get the beach all to yourself.
Camilla Rutherford
Culture
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
It's not an overstatement to say the Waitangi Treaty Grounds are Aotearoa New Zealand's most important historical site. It's the location where the Treaty of Waitangi, the nation's founding document, was signed all those years ago in 1840. Brush up on the history and stories of how New Zealand, as it has come to exist today, all began.
Miles Holden
Coast
Puwheke
Few beaches in Northland are so easy to access, yet so utterly untouched and pristine. Bring the 4x4, drive down a pothole-infested gravel road wide enough for one car and park on the dunes, or drive down the beach if you're feeling super adventurous. Climb over the rocks on the right of the beach to explore a cave that occasionally fills out with massive bats. If that's not for you, come on the right day and head to the left end of the beach — the surf's often stellar. The local secret is that if you time your trip well and head up anytime that's not high summer, you're in with a good chance of being the only one on this rugged white sand beach located along the Karikari Peninsula.
Kai Iwi Lakes
Just out of Dargaville you'll find a freshwater lake, surrounded by bone-white beaches and grassy campgrounds, that's truly a local secret. It's easy to spend a few days up here, barbecuing by the lake, enjoying the views over the uber-clear, light blue waters and perhaps swimming out to one of many pontoons to indulge in a bomb or two. The water is super shallow so you'll be pleasantly surprised at how warm it gets during summer.
Matai Bay
Surrounded by open fields, Māori land, and blooming Pōhutukawa trees, Matai Bay looks like something lifted straight off a cheesy postcard. It's a small golden sand cove, before a crystal blue harbour dotted with rocky islands. For a slice of the bay to yourself, hang a left under the boat ramp and walk to the far end of the beach. Otherwise if you're seeking a thrill, whack your way through the bush covering the hill on the right end of the beach and you'll find a stone ledge a few metres high that serves as a perfect diving board.
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