What a road trip! Auckland to Cape Reinga in the subtropical far north—"the winterless north," as some call it. As we follow the 497-mile Twin Coast Discovery Highway up the east coast and back down the less developed west coast, with this itinerary, you'll be able to visit the beaches, bays and little coves of the east coast and the impressive dunes, sweeping harbors and wild coastline (oh yes, and the rainforests) out west.
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Queen Street, Auckland
It's the thriving commercial and shopping center of the CBD. With shops, bars, and restaurants galore, you'll feel the vibe of NZ's biggest and busiest city. Plus, it's an easy walk to the waterfront.
SkyJump 72 Victoria Street West, Auckland
There's plenty to see and do in “big city” Auckland, including SkyJump for adrenaline junkies, where you can freefall 630 feet at 53 miles an hour. But if you'd rather see “the real NZ”, head north over the bridge to the charming town of Mangawhai Heads, where you can either surf at the beach or swim peacefully in the harbor. Or check out the native bird life on the sand dunes. And while you're nearby, perhaps you'd fancy a fancy chocolate? Then head to…
Bennetts of Mangawhai 52 Moir Street, Mangawhai
Treat yourself to some hand-crafted deliciousness at Bennetts Chocolate shop (made from sustainable cocoa and local flavors).
Wairau Maori Art Gallery 2 Quayside, Whangarei
The world's first Maori dedicated Public Art Gallery, it's housed within the Hundertwasser Art Centre. By the way, the locals pronounce Whangarei as fong-array with the stress on the first syllable.
Whangarei Falls 6 Ngunguru Road, Tikipunga, Whangarei
Just 6 miles out of town and an easy 2-minute walk from the parking lot to the waterfall's lookout. Another 6 minutes to the base of the 85-foot waterfall, then an optional 30-minute loop back to your vehicle. Keep in mind that the loop trail has stairs.
Tutukaka Harbor The Anchorage, Tutukaka
This coastal haven is the entry to the Poor Knights Marine Reserve and its beautiful white-sand beaches. The reserve is home to 125+ species of marine life, making it a wonderful diving experience with good fishing spots too. It's one of the world's top 3 coastlines, as rated by National Geographic Traveler.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi
Widely considered the birthplace of the nation, here you'll find historic buildings, exhibits, and a Native American cultural presentation about the intent and significance of NZ's founding document.
Russell Wharf, 27 The Strand, Russell
Russell was New Zealand's first capital city, the first European settlement, and the country's first seaport. The Russell Wharf is a great place to take a cruise of the Bay of Islands. Look out for seals, dolphins, seabirds, and the "Hole in the Rock." Other outdoor attractions in the Bay of Islands include parasailing, diving, dolphin swimming, and kayaking.
Rainbow Falls Walk 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri
For spectacular scenic views, visit Rainbow Falls (and also Paihia Harbor). There are hiking trails, guided biking tours, and wildlife cruises where you can hope to spot whales and the local dolphin population, rumored to be around 500 strong.
Butler Point Whaling Museum 31 Marchant Road, Hihi
Early whaling fleets visited the Mangonui harbor. Today a 64-acre site includes the whaling museum and the old Butler homestead, restored and open to visitors. Call in here while en route to Cape Reinga.
Cape Reinga Lighthouse Cape Reinga
Standing 541 feet above sea level, the solar-powered lighthouse at Cape Reinga can be seen 21.7 miles out at sea and marks the (most accessible) northernmost point of NZ. However, the true northernmost point is 18.6 miles east at Surville Cliffs.
Carrington Estate 109 Matai Bay Road, Karikari Peninsula
As you make your way back south, take the western route to visit NZ's northernmost vineyard—and three compass points in one short sentence! On 3000 acres, the estate includes 18 holes of championship ocean-side golf, plus 900 acres of restored wetlands. Visit the restaurant or play your best-ever golf with sweeping ocean views to both the north and the east.
Sheepworld 324 State Highway 1, Warkworth
With five sheep (give or take) for every person, NZ is big on sheep. So a unique and memorable way to wrap up your time in the “land of the long white cloud” is to check in at Sheepworld, 2.5 miles north of Warkworth, where you can watch entertaining live shearing demos, see sheepdogs at work and lamb feeding in season. In addition, the Ecowool shop sells knitwear and sheepskin products.
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