Things to Do in Northland with Kids — 2026 Family Guide

Whangarei Falls (Free, 20 Minutes)

Whangarei Falls is 26 metres of waterfall in native bush, a 5-minute walk from the carpark. It's the most visited waterfall in Northland and genuinely impressive — the lookout platform above the falls gives a top-down view, and the track continues to the base pool. Good for all ages. Free, 20-minute stop on the drive north. Combine with the adjacent Claphams Clocks Museum (entry fee — extraordinary collection of clocks; odd but genuinely interesting for kids who like mechanical things).

Town Basin and Hātea River Walk (Free)

Whangarei's Town Basin is a revitalised waterfront area with good cafés, the Kiwi North museum (entry fee), and a flat river walk. Good for a lunch stop. The Art Museum is free. Whangarei is worth 2–3 hours as a break on the drive north — not a destination in itself.

Kiwi North Museum

Northland's regional museum with a kiwi house (live kiwi viewing, nocturnal house). Small entry fee. Worth 1–2 hours for families interested in Northland's natural history and Māori taonga (treasures). The kiwi house is consistently the most popular section for kids.

The Bay of Islands is the heart of Northland for families. Paihia is the main hub. For full detail on Bay of Islands activities, see our Bay of Islands with Kids guide — summary here:

• Dolphin cruise (Fullers GreatSights or Explore NZ from Paihia): the must-do activity — dolphin pods of 50–100 are common
• Hole in the Rock cruise: full-day sail through 246 islands to Cape Brett — spectacular scenery
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds: NZ's most significant historical site — free for under-15s, cultural performance included
• Haruru Falls boardwalk: free, 20-minute walk through mangroves to a horseshoe waterfall
• Russell: 15-minute passenger ferry from Paihia — historic NZ's first town, good for a half-day

Stone Store and Kerikeri Basin (Free to Walk, Small Entry for Store)

Kerikeri Basin is the most historically concentrated area in New Zealand — the Stone Store (1836, NZ's oldest stone building), Keiki's historic mission house, and the beginning of NZ's European history all within a small area. Free to walk the grounds; small entry to enter the Stone Store itself. The adjacent Kerikeri River Walk (free, 20 minutes return) leads through bush to Rainbow Falls — one of the prettiest free walks in Northland.

Kerikeri Farmers Market (Saturday Mornings)

One of NZ's best regional markets — local citrus, avocados, macadamia nuts, honey, bread, and prepared food from 8am to noon. Kerikeri's subtropical climate produces excellent fruit that you won't find further south. Free entry, bring cash for produce.

Tāne Mahuta — Lord of the Forest (All Ages)

Tāne Mahuta is the largest living kauri tree in New Zealand — 51 metres tall, estimated at 1,500–2,000 years old, and genuinely awe-inspiring. A 10-minute walk from the carpark leads to a viewing platform. It's free to visit but kauri dieback disease protocols are mandatory — all shoes must be sprayed with the provided disinfectant before entering the forest. This is enforced and important; explain it to kids beforehand as a conservation lesson (it genuinely is one).

The experience of standing in front of Tāne Mahuta is one of those NZ moments that doesn't require any hype — the tree simply stops everyone in their tracks. Plan for more time than you think you need. Kids who aren't interested in trees usually change their minds at the base.

Te Matua Ngahere — Father of the Forest

A 45-minute return walk from the carpark leads to Te Matua Ngahere — a different kauri giant with an enormous girth (the widest-girthed living kauri). A longer and more rewarding walk than Tāne Mahuta for families who want a forest immersion rather than a quick stop. Suitable for ages 6+ on foot.

Waipoua Forest Location Note

Waipoua Forest is 2 hours south of Paihia on the west coast — a full day trip. The Hokianga Harbour (adjacent to the forest) is worth seeing: the enormous sand dunes on the north head are sandboard-able (hire boards in Omapere), and the Hokianga has a remote, unhurried atmosphere unlike anywhere in Northland.

Cape Reinga Lighthouse and Spirit Departure Point

Cape Reinga is the northwestern tip of the North Island — where Māori believe the spirits of the departed leap into the sea to return to Hawaiki (their ancestral homeland). The lighthouse sits on a headland where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean visibly meet with competing currents. It's a significant cultural site and a dramatic physical one — the sense of being at the end of the land is genuine.

The drive from Paihia is 3.5–4 hours return via SH1, or via guided 4WD tours that drive along 90 Mile Beach (actually 88km — one of NZ's longest beaches). The 4WD beach tour is a worthwhile experience for kids who've never been on a beach driven as a road — most tour operators stop for toheroa shell searching and sand dune sandboarding.

90 Mile Beach

The beach is a highway in legal terms (State Highway rules apply). In practice: 90 minutes of hard sand driving with ocean on one side and dunes on the other. Tour operators from Paihia and Kaitaia run half-day and full-day 4WD tours. Self-drive on the beach is possible with the right vehicle and tide knowledge — most family rentals won't be appropriate. Book through a tour operator.