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Campervans for Northland
A campervan is ideal for Northland — holiday parks are everywhere and it saves $100+/night on accommodation.
Compare campervan prices →Book Bay of Islands Activities
Dolphin cruises and Hole in the Rock tours book out in peak season — reserve ahead.
Book & Save on Activities →Budget Breakdown
Budget is indicative. Campervan hire can reduce accommodation and food costs significantly — compare campervans.
Day-by-Day Plan
Auckland to Paihia — The Bay
- Drive north via Wellsford and Whangarei
- Stop at Whangarei Falls (15min walk, free) on the way through
- Arrive Paihia — check in, walk the foreshore
- Late afternoon swim at Paihia Beach
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds are walkable from Paihia foreshore (visit Day 2)
- Paihia TOP 10 Holiday Park is the best family base — walk to everything
- Book dolphin cruise for Day 2 morning from Paihia wharf
- Fuel up in Whangarei — Bay of Islands prices are higher
Dolphin Cruise & Waitangi
- Dolphin Discoveries cruise — swim with dolphins or watch from boat (book ahead)
- Hole in the Rock passage — dramatic sea arch at Cape Brett
- Afternoon: Waitangi Treaty Grounds — NZ's founding document site, cultural performances
- Evening: Paihia foreshore restaurants
- Dolphin Discoveries dolphin swim is $89/adult, $55/child — book online
- Waitangi is $40/adult, kids free — allow 2 hours
- Paihia waterfront cafes are good value for lunch
Kerikeri & Cape Reinga Road
- Kerikeri: Rainbow Falls walk (30min return, free, beautiful)
- Kerikeri Mission Station — NZ's oldest surviving building (1822)
- Drive north to Kaitaia — base for Cape Reinga next day
- Option: Doubtless Bay detour for a swim at Coopers Beach
- Coopers Beach is one of Northland's best — worth the small detour
- Kaitaia is not scenic — use it only as a fuel and sleep stop
- Stock up on food in Kaitaia — no supermarkets north of here
Cape Reinga & 90 Mile Beach
- Cape Reinga Lighthouse — walk to NZ's spiritual northern tip (30min return)
- Watch the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean collide — extraordinary
- Te Paki Sand Dunes — hire boards at the gate ($20) and surf down 100m dunes
- Ninety Mile Beach — drive on beach with a 4WD (do NOT attempt in a regular rental car)
- Return via inland road through Te Paki farms
- Sand dune boards are available at the car park for $20 — worth every cent for kids
- Do NOT drive on Ninety Mile Beach in a rental car — hire car insurance is void on beaches
- Take a organised Cape Reinga bus tour from Kaitaia if you want beach driving experience
Waipoua Forest & Drive South
- Waipoua Forest — Tane Mahuta, the world's largest living kauri tree (15min walk, free)
- Te Matua Ngahere — the 'Father of the Forest' kauri (40min return walk)
- Trounson Kauri Park — evening kiwi spotting tour option
- Dargaville Museum — fascinating Northland and kauri history
- Drive south via Dargaville to Auckland (3h)
- Tane Mahuta is unmissable — genuinely awe-inspiring, all ages
- You must stay on the boardwalks — kauri dieback disease kills trees via foot contact
- Allow an early start to reach Auckland by early evening
Packing Tips for This Trip
- Reef-safe sunscreen — Northland UV is extreme Nov-Apr
- Sandfly repellent for bush walks and beach evenings
- Good sandals and beach shoes — you'll use them every day
- Boogie board if driving in summer — beaches are excellent
- Cash for Te Paki sand dune boards and smaller cafes
FAQ
Is the Bay of Islands trip doable with toddlers?
Yes — Paihia beach is calm and safe, the dolphin cruise is exciting for toddlers, and Waitangi has good open space. Cape Reinga is a long drive for a toddler but the sand dunes are worth it. A campervan gives flexibility for nap stops.
How far is Auckland to the Bay of Islands?
245km (about 3 hours) via State Highway 1. Traffic out of Auckland can add 30-45 minutes Friday evenings. Most families stop at Whangarei Falls halfway.
Should I do a Cape Reinga bus tour or drive myself?
Drive yourself if you have a rental car or campervan — you have more flexibility. Take a bus tour if you want the 90 Mile Beach driving experience (insurance voids on personal vehicles). Tours from Kaitaia are around $60-70 per adult.
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