Bay of Islands & Northland
From the Kauri Walks car park, a 20-minute walk leads past the Four Sisters, a graceful stand of four tall trees fused together at the base, to Te Matua…
Must-see attractions in Bay of Islands & Northland
Bay of Islands & Northland
Near the north end of the park, not far from the road, stands mighty Tāne Mahuta, named for the Māori forest god. At 51.5m, with a 13.8m girth and wood…
Bay of Islands & Northland
Mangawhai's main claim to fame is the surf beach and its large hilltop car park fills up quickly in peak season. To the south a narrow spit of sand…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
The giant cross-sections of trees at this superb museum are astounding in themselves, but the entire industry is animated through life-sized reproductions…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
One of regional NZ's best museums, this spectacular building shaped like a stingray is on the main road linking Mangawhai village to Mangawhai Heads…
Arai-te-uru Recreation Reserve
Bay of Islands & Northland
Covering the southern headland of the Hokianga Harbour, this reserve offers magnificent views over the harbour and along the wild west coast. A short walk…
Clapham’s National Clock Museum
Bay of Islands & Northland
This charming collection of 1600 ticking, gonging and cuckooing timepieces is housed in a building shaped as a sundial. There are all manner of kooky and…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
At Wairere, massive basalt rock formations have been eroded into odd fluted shapes by the acidity of ancient kauri forests. Allow 40 minutes for the main…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
The hilltop Dargaville Museum is more interesting than most regional museums. There’s a large gumdigging display, plus maritime, Māori and musical…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Abbey Caves is an undeveloped network of three caverns full of glowworms and limestone formations, 6km east of town. Take a torch, strong shoes, a mate…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
This pretty cottage was built in the bustling 1860s by James Clendon, a trader, shipowner and magistrate. After his death, his 34-year-old half-Māori…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Green-fingered volunteers have transformed this old quarry into a blissful community park with a lake, waterfalls, pungent floral aromas, wild bits,…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
The beach is a gazetted highway: you can drive along the sand at low tide, although it is primarily for 4WDs. Despite being NZ’s longest driveable beach,…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Native ferns, tropical plants and cacti are displayed in this little council-run fernery and conservatory, set on the edge of cute Cafler Park. The park…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Five kilometres west of Whangārei, this park complex includes 19th-century buildings, the Whangārei Museum displaying Māori and colonial artefacts, and a…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Occupying a century-old corner building originally built as a grocery store, this upmarket commercial gallery exhibits interesting work by local artists…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
A grove of immense 500-year-old kauri trees has been preserved in this lush tract of native bush, where a cleverly designed boardwalk leads you…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Whangārei's public gallery has an interesting permanent collection, but the two large gallery spaces usually house temporary exhibitions by regional and…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Short walks around these 26m-high falls provide views of the water cascading over the edge of an old basalt lava flow. The falls can be reached on the…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
In this fascinating little museum Waipu's Scottish heritage comes to life through holograms, a short film and interactive displays. The shop stocks…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
A sophisticated surprise in such a small place, this volunteer-run gallery fills a restored heritage building with ever-changing exhibitions – mainly from…
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Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre
Bay of Islands & Northland
This avian hospital nurses sick and injured birds back to health. Take a walk around the outdoor aviaries and say hi to the talking tui for us.
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Bay of Islands & Northland
An eccentric village of artists’ studios and co-operative galleries where you can often pick up well-priced art and craft.
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Fans of the late Austrian-born architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser will instantly recognise his influence in this colourful, irregularly shaped, one…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Catholicism arrived in Aotearoa in the form of well-respected French bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier, who celebrated NZ’s first Mass at Totara Point…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
This coastal reserve features sand dunes, pohutukawa trees, jutting headlands and picturesque beaches. DOC-managed accommodation includes an eight-person…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Handcrafted wines include chardonnay, pinot gris and Bordeaux-style reds, and the beautiful vineyard is a great spot for a shared antipasto platter to…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Completed in 1839, this sweet wooden cottage contains relics of the missionaries who once inhabited it, and of Horeke’s shipbuilding past. In the grounds…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
For a bird's-eye view over the canopy, head to the forest lookout, near the very south end of the park. You can either drive to it (the road is well…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Set between Whangarei's old and new library buildings is this intriguing sculpture consisting of 10 large poles carved with Māori, Polynesian, Celtic,…
