The Far North is the most remote and dramatic region of Northland, stretching from the northern edge of the Bay of Islands all the way to Cape Reinga. Known for its untouched beaches, coastal drives, Māori heritage, and iconic landmarks like 90 Mile Beach, it is one of New Zealand’s most scenic road trip destinations.

Things to do in Far North

The Far North of Northland is a vast and diverse travel region stretching from the northern reaches of the Bay of Islands to the iconic lighthouse at Cape Reinga, where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet.

This region is best explored as a scenic road trip, with highlights including sweeping coastlines, remote beaches, Māori cultural landmarks, and small coastal settlements such as Mangonui, Doubtless Bay, and Whangaroa Harbour.

Travellers journeying through the Far North often experience some of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes, including 90 Mile Beach, the Te Paki sand dunes, and the northernmost point of the country at Cape Reinga. This area holds deep cultural significance in Māori tradition and is one of the most spiritually important locations in New Zealand.

Most visitors stay in the Bay of Islands and travel north on guided tours or self-drive itineraries, making the Far North an essential extension of any Northland experience. It is ideal for those seeking dramatic scenery, cultural depth, and a true sense of remote wilderness.

Tourist Information About Far North

Northland Attractions & Activities by Area

Activities and Attractions in Far North

Paihia, Northland

Cape Reinga & Ninety Mile Beach

Travel along Ninety Mile Beach

from NZ $195.00

11:05 hours

4.4 / 5 (324)

Far North, Northland

Cape Reinga & 90 Mile Beach Tour

Cape Reinga Lighthouse

from NZ $220.00

4 Hours

5.0 / 5 (16)

Find your perfect Far North experience

Activities in Far North

Discover More

Attractions in Far North

Discover More

Frequently Asked Questions about Far North

What is the Far North of New Zealand known for?

The Far North of Northland is known for its dramatic coastlines, remote beaches, Māori cultural heritage, and iconic landmarks such as Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach. It is one of the most scenic and remote travel regions in New Zealand.

How far is Cape Reinga from the Bay of Islands?

Cape Reinga is approximately 3.5 to 4.5 hours’ drive north of the Bay of Islands. Most visitors travel there as part of a guided day tour or multi-day Northland road trip.

Can you visit the Far North in a day trip?

Yes - many visitors take a full-day guided tour from the Bay of Islands to Cape Reinga and return the same day. However, staying longer allows more time to explore places like Doubtless Bay, Mangonui, and surrounding coastal regions.

What are the must-see attractions in the Far North?

Top attractions include Cape Reinga, 90 Mile Beach, the Te Paki sand dunes, and remote coastal beaches such as Rarawa Beach. The region also features scenic drives, Māori cultural sites, and untouched natural landscapes.

Is 90 Mile Beach really 90 miles long?

Despite its name, 90 Mile Beach is actually about 88 kilometres long. It is a legally recognised highway in parts and is often included in guided tour routes to Cape Reinga.

What is the best way to explore the Far North?

The best way to explore the Far North is by guided tour or self-drive road trip. Most visitors start in the Bay of Islands and travel north through scenic coastal routes, stopping at key attractions along the way.

Is Cape Reinga a cultural site?

Yes - Cape Reinga is one of the most spiritually significant locations in Māori culture. It is traditionally believed to be the point where spirits depart New Zealand and journey to their ancestral homeland.

Tourist Information About Far North

The northernmost tip of New Zealand features many stunning attractions, with the famous 90 Mile Beach, the legendary Cape Reinga - where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea and is home to a giant swamp of Kauri trees thousands of years old. The whole region is lined with beautiful, unspoiled white sandy beaches perfect for swimming and gathering shellfish. Being so unspoilt, the Far North has some of the best fishing and diving waters in the world. Guided tours depart from Paihia (Bay of Islands) and Kaitaia in the Far North daily and travel the popular 90 Mile Beach as well as the road north, bringing the fascinating gumdigging, Maori, and early European history to life. Beach activities range from surfing, surfcasting, and swimming to bodyboarding down the sand dunes. Other points of interest are the views down to Cape Maria Van Diemen and the beautiful beach at stunning Tapotupotu Bay, a sandy beach that is nestled on the eastern side of Cape Reinga. For the tramper, there are numerous walks, from short to multi-day walks, staying at Department of Conservation camp sites.

Best attractions and things to do in the Far North

1. Experience 90 Mile Beach

90-mile beach is a stunning attraction in the area regarded by many to be one of the best surfcasting beaches in the world. One of the best things to do is a bus tour, which will take you along the beach at low tide and drive you up the infamous quicksand stream, where you can have fun sandboarding at the Giant Sand Dunes of Te Paki. Driving on the beach can be treacherous and has claimed many unfortunate vehicles in its unforgiving sands, so a bus trip is ideal here. Ninety Mile Beach is on the western coast of the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. The beach is actually 88 kilometers long.

2. Sand Boarding

Sandboarding the Te Paki sand dunes is definitely a bucket list activity! Surfing down giant sand dunes towering well over 150 meters high in some parts is a highlight of any trip to the Far North. Remember to wear bare feet for your walk up the dune, and also so you can dig your feet in as brakes on the way down. Remove your jewelry, lie down on your board, keeping your elbows tucked in, and slide straight on down the dune for a thrill-seeking, adrenaline-pumping rush! The Te Paki sand dunes don’t just attract the thrillseekers anxious to sandboard. They are also a remarkable sight.

3. Visit Cape Reinga

Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga), is an absolute must-do attraction in New Zealand. Uncover the wild beauty and rugged views of this vast and untouched region with amazing panoramic views where the clashing Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet. The main activity is to do the Cape lighthouse walk with the Iconic WWII Lighthouse, one of the most visited and photographed lighthouses in New Zealand. Cape Reinga is rich in Maori culture and legend. It is a sacred site for the Maori people who believe that at Cape Reinga, “the place of the leaping”, the spirits of the departed leap from an 800-year-old pohutukawa tree on the windswept cape to begin the voyage back to their final resting place in the ancestral homeland of Hawaiki. Take one of the most wanted photos at the international signpost. The 90-mile beach / Cape Reinga bus tours leave from Kaitaia and Paihia.

4. Rarawa Beach

Visiting Rarawa Beach with its incredible squeaky white silicone sand is a great thing to do if you are self-driving up to Cape Reinga. It is a very isolated and unspoilt, completely white beach with perfectly crystal clear, turquoise blue, tropical-looking water!

5. Ahipara

An excellent thing to do up here, right near the main town of Kaitaia, is to go to Ahipara and Shipwreck Bay. Well known for excellent surfing with big, long rides. Here you can enjoy many activities such as horse riding up the beach, sand surfing, 4WD treks, quad bike riding, blokarting, fishing from the beach, surfing, and diving.

6. Visit ancient Kauri Trees

Visit a giant swamp of Kauri trees thousands of years old! Gumdiggers Park is a historic type activity showcasing an ancient buried Kauri forest and is situated just 20 minutes north of Kaitaia en route to Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach. You can touch and feel a giant tree that is more than 100,000 years old and step back in time and learn the history of Kauri Gum in this replica village.

7. Karikari Peninsula

Karikari Peninsula is filled with beautiful beaches. A major attraction, particularly in the summer, is the stunning beach of Matai Bay at the end of the Karikari Peninsula. Activities and things to do here are the award-winning Karikari Estate Winery and the well-known Carrington Golf course and restaurant.