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Top Northland hotels

Paihia Hotels: 125 Reviews - 225 Photos
Whangarei Hotels: 61 Reviews - 64 Photos
Bay of Islands Hotels: 138 Reviews - 293 Photos
Omapere Hotels: 23 Reviews - 52 Photos
Whangarei Hotels: 5 Reviews - 36 Photos
Russell Hotels: 20 Reviews - 49 Photos
Waipoua Forest Hotels: 10 Reviews - 26 Photos
Ninety Mile Beach Hotels: 36 Reviews - 40 Photos
Kerikeri Hotels: 14 Reviews - 50 Photos
Cape Reinga Hotels: 35 Reviews - 73 Photos
Waipapakauri Hotels: 2 Reviews
Houhora Hotels: 2 Reviews - 4 Photos
Kaitaia Hotels: 6 Reviews - 3 Photos
Waitangi Hotels: 25 Reviews - 50 Photos
Waipu Cove Hotels: 2 Reviews - 14 Photos

Northland Things to Do

St. Pauls, a real charmer

by iandsmith

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St. Pauls, a real charmer
by iandsmith
Things to Do
by will399
Things to Do
by will399
Things to Do
by wondernz
View over Whangarei
by balhannah

Most Viewed Things to Do in Northland

Hole in the Rock Paihia

9 Reviews On the way back to town, the boat allowed a few of the insane passengers to venture into the freezing cold water to ride a net. Sorry folks, but I?m from a tropical country so I gave this a miss. The...

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Haruru Falls Paihia

5 Reviews They're not really high falls by any means, but they are in a horseshoe shape, which is evidently rare, Niagra Falls being cited as the only other horseshoe shaped falls known. Beware of your...

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Russell Paihia

4 Reviews One of the activities you can indulge in (recommended) is to walk up to Flagstaff Hill. This has the combined benefits of (a) giving you some exercise (b) giving you panoramic views and (c) giving you...

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Dolphin Adventure Paihia

3 Reviews The following day, I went aboard a King's boat that took us on an awesome tour of the Bay of Islands. Paihia, the beach town I?ve grown to love these past few days, is situated in the Bay of Islands....

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The Cream Trip Paihia

2 Reviews Take a cruise on the famous `cream trip` around some of the 144 islands and bays and through the well known `hole in the rock`. I finally did this on my last trip home and it was great. The weather...

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Cape Brett Hole-in-the-Rock Cruise

by vtveen

When visiting the Bay of Islands area we had to make at least one cruise to see at least a couple of the 144 islands. We decided to make the "Cape Brett Hole-in-the-Rock Cruise" with Fullers, leaving in the morning from Paihia for a halfday cruise. Fullers vessel is a nice catamaran, but if you want to sit outside on the deck be sure to board early. We made a stop in Russell before leaving to the Bay. The journey continues along beautiful bays and islands, surrounded by crystal clear sea. Some of them are inhabited; must be like a fairy tale to live here. But it is also exiting to see the 'fight' between sun and clouds in the middle of these amazing scenery.We didn't see the 'promised' dolphins, just a Gannet colony on Bird Rock. Motukokako Island is the island with the hole in the rock. Although the waves were pretty high the skipper succeeded to manoeuvre his 'huge' boat through the...

Matakana and "the other" spectacular toilets

by Kakapo2

Tip written by my guest writer MargareteWhile New Zealand's most stunning views are what Mother Nature has created - beaches, valleys or mountain ranges -, when it comes to nature's call, some built features are also truly remarkable. So let's talk about toilets for a change.Friedensreich (Frederick) Hundertwasser's toilets in Kawakawa are already a well-known tourist must-see stop on the way up north. However, should you feel the urge to relieve yourself just out of Auckland, you may consider holding on until your reach Matakana, a quaint little township about one hour north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Matakana is known for its Saturday morning Farmers' Market, which is worth visiting, especially if you like tasty food like chutneys, home-made jams or really good bread. It's also a great place to sample fresh, decently sized oysters, topped with a dab of lemon mustard and sprinkled...

On the Twin Coast Discovery Highway, Part 1

by Kakapo2

You can see nearly everything and miss a lot when you travel in Northland, depending on how much time you can spend at this narrow stretch of rugged land north of Auckland.The best way to see as much as possible is to travel on the Twin Coast Discovery Highway which in fact is three highways, with many possible detours to no-exit locations which cost time but are always worth the trip because you get to places of extraordinary beauty.It does not matter which way round you travel. You are individual enough to work out your own way. I have once done a whole Northland trip without, of course, seeing everything. On another trip we drove to the gannet colony at Muriwai Beach and to South Head, on the Kaipara Harbour, which is north-west of Auckland. And on a third trip we were based in the Bay of Islands, went into detail along the coast north of Paihia and back to Waipoua Forest - and found...

On the Twin Coast Discovery Highway, Part 2

by Kakapo2

Click here for Part 1.Part 2 of the Northland roundtrip:Dargaville is the gateway to the Waipoua Forest which is world-famous for its giant kauri trees. First Trounson Kauri Park (great boardwalk, home to kiwi and weta) and Kai-Iwi Lakes, then Four Sisters and Tane Mahuta. - Omapere, Opononi - along Hokianga Harbour to Rawene, ferry to Kohukohu, through the hinterland back to SH 1 to Kaitaia, we stayed further west in Ahipara.We booked a tour to Cape Reinga, New Zealand's northernmost point, on 90 Mile Beach. On the way we visited Wagener Museum (Maori artifacts, natural history, kauri gum etc.) in Houhara, the snow white quartz beach Rarawa Beach, crossed Te Paki Stream and walked up the dunes. At Cape Reinga you do not only have to check out the lighthouse but also walkways and beaches.From Kaitaia we started our trip back south on SH 10 along Rangaunu Harbour (fantastic detour to...

WAIPOUA FOREST

by balhannah

As you head north from Dargaville you will drive through this magnificent Kauri Forest full of Ferns, rare New Zealand flora and fauna, colossal Kauri Trees, nocturnal kiwi [don't expect to spot one!], all set amongst beautiful rainforest. As you enter the park, take the turn to the Forest Lookout which was once a fire lookout and offers a spectacular view of the area.There are many stops to be made, and you really should stop and have a look. We were amazed at how big these trees were!Te Matua Ngahere the 'Father of the Forest', is only a 10minute walk to witness a Tree that has a trunk over five metres in diameter, believed to be the widest girth of any kauri tree in New Zealand. Close by are the Four Sisters, a collection of four tall trees in close proximity. Also near Te Matua Ngahere is the Phantom Tree, believed to be the second largest in the forest. Further up the road is Tane...

RAWENE

by balhannah

RAWENE they say is Hokianga's Picturesque Port Town. We followed Highway 1 from the Bay of Islands reached Kohu Kohu where a ferry leaves to cross the Hokianga Narrows to Rawene. This will make your journey a lot shorter than taking the long drive around to Horeke.Rawene is a quiet small town, with many old buildings having been restored and some are open or in use. The town was built in the early settler period. The ferry departs every hour on the half-hour from Rawene and on the hour from Narrows. The first sailing leaves Rawene at 7.30 am, with the last sailing leaving the Narrows at 8 pm.

MOUNT PARIHAKA LOOKOUT-WHANGAREI

by balhannah

Mount Parihaka is a Volcanic dome which is about 20 million yrs old. This is the highest point in Whangarei and you get wonderful views of the city and harbour from here. You can drive or walk up to the top.

WHANGAREI TOWN BASIN

by balhannah

The Town Basin is a nice area in Whangarei for shopping or browsing, and just sitting with a coffee enjoying the harbourside views of fishing boats, yachts, launches etc. The view alters daily as the tide moves through its cycle.We had a look at some Galleries, there are a few to choose from!

Around Warkworth: Pioneer Museum + Sheep World

by Kakapo2

The charming town of Warkworth was once linked to Auckland by steamship service. Today it has become a centre of steamship revival, and some guys passionate about this kind of transportation operate restored and replica vessels out of the Mahurangi River.Some kilometres south of Warkworth (sign-posted to the right, if travelling north) is the Pioneer Museum and Kauri Park. Outside the museum is a Kauri that is estimated to be about 800 years old.4km north of Warkworth is Sheep World (sign-posted to the right, if travelling north). Visitors can feed pet lambs, see a farmer and his dogs working with sheep, watch shearers in action. Also the processing of wool is demonstrated. Just a very small version of Rotorua's Agrodome.Website: http://www.discoverrodney.co.nz/Warkworth.html

Do not get sick - the doctor has left LOL

by Kakapo2

Sorry, guys! If you have sexual needs Coopers Beach is no more the place for you to go. The doctor has closed down his brothel-turned surgery in November 2006 because you did not visit frequently, and the locals did not dare to enjoy the pleasures of Northland's northernmost temple of joys. As you can surely imagine you think twice to go to a brothel if everybody knows everybody, as is the case in such small places like Coopers Beach, just some kilometres north of Mangonui.Coopers Beach itself has - as you can well deduct from the name - a beautiful beach. White sand, and around Christmas time it is bordered by huge flowering pohutukawa, wrapping a red ribbon of flowers along the shoreline. You can make long beach walks in both directions, to Mangonui in the south, and further up north.But back to the doctor. He is a Canadian, and after arguments with the district health board about the...