Cape Reinga tour
You can sit back and enjoy the breathtaking scenery in this unique part of our country or you can also participate in a full range of activities available including swimming, sand tobogganing and digging for shellfish.
Our full-day tour includes:
- Pickup and drop off at your accommodation in Doubtless Bay or elsewhere in this area with travel in our comfortable Toyota Landcruisers.
- Departure time normally around 9 a.m with 4x4 tours returning at your leisure.
- A delicious picnic lunch with fine Northland wine and morning refreshments.
This one day excursion is by far the most popular tour that we offer. The time of high tide at Ninety Mile Beach dictates the order of this itinerary so this is just a guide:
We travel up the Aupouri Peninsula to Cape Reinga via the Ancient Kauri Kingdom where you can see and touch giant prehistoric Kauri logs, carbon dated up to 50,000 years old. Through the massive Aupouri Pine Forest with its herds of wild horses, Houhora harbour and a stop at one of the white silica-sand beaches of Great Exhibition Bay on the east (Pacific) coast.
On through spectacular native bush country to the road's end at the Cape Reinga lighthouse. Here you can view magnificent Te Werahi Beach down to Cape Maria Van Dieman, the meeting of the Tasman Sea and the mighty Pacific Ocean as well as our lighthouse and the location of the Spirit Tree, sacred in Maori legend.
Then an exhilarating ride through the Te Paki Stream - known locally as 'Quicksand Stream'. Here you can try tobogganing down the giant sand dunes (smaller dunes are available on request!). On to the famous and virtually untouched west-coast Ninety Mile Beach on the Tasman Sea. Here you will experience its varied bird and wildlife and you may well spot the herds of wild horses again.
There will be ample time for swimming, sand tobogganing (toboggans supplied) and photography.