Ready for an adventure to the far north? The Cape Reinga lighthouse is not only the northernmost point in New Zealand, but also an incredibly beautiful place to visit! The rugged tip of Cape Reinga is filled with camping, endless hikes, untouched beaches, and much more. Most of all, no trip to this area would be complete without walking to the famous lighthouse viewpoint!
The Far Drive North to Cape Reinga
The first thing to know about Cape Reinga is that it’s quite a journey from almost anywhere in the country. That means even if you’re starting from somewhere closer like the Bay of Islands, you’re still in for a very long drive.
The winding roads take you up the coast on Route 1 and into the dense forest of the Aupouri Peninsula. Make sure you have a comfortable car for your trip to Cape Reinga.
→ New Zealand North Island Itinerary: 4 Awesome One Week Routes
Cape Reinga Day Trip vs. Overnight
Being that it’s around 6 hours from Auckland, you may want to include Cape Reinga New Zealand in a larger road trip. A day trip is definitely doable from Mangonui which will take you just under 2 hours.
However, there’s also some great Cape Reinga camp sites to stay if you want be closer. We spent the night at the Tapotupotu DOC site which is a quick 20 minute drive from the Cape Reinga lighthouse.
Here we swam in the ocean, watched the sunrise, and even hiked up to an incredible viewpoint overlooking the beach. We highly recommend doing some Cape Reinga camping if you have a van or a tent. Yet, whether you plan a day trip or multi-night visit you’re sure to have a blast!
→ 15 Best Tips to Know Before Freedom Camping in New Zealand
Cape Reinga Lighthouse Walk
The Cape Reinga Lighthouse is biggest draw to this part of New Zealand, and it’s well worth the trip to see. Just be aware there’s not much cell service and limited parking depending on what time of year you visit.
To give you an idea of how popular it is, we arrived at the Cape Rienga Lighthouse mid-week during off-season… And it was still packed with people!
Whatever the case, the path is plenty wide enough to the lighthouse and should requires about 15 to 20 minutes. You’ll have sweeping views of the famous point and surrounding beaches. Enjoy every moment of the Cape Reinga walk, and take your time on the way down.
→ Cape Reinga Lighthouse Location
Cape Reinga New Zealand History
The importance of Cape Reinga is much deeper than just this lighthouse! The Maori believe this area is sacred, as it’s the meeting point between the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean.
The legend goes that when you die your spirit makes the journey to Cape Reinga to be set free to meet your ancestors. In addition, the Pohutukawa tree on the tip of the peninsula is thought to be over 800 years old!
More Cape Reinga Beaches & Hikes
While most people come for the the lighthouse, there is so many more things to see in Cape Reinga! The Te Paki Coastal Track cuts away from the lighthouse walk and leads you down to an untouched beach.
This is just a small section of the track which is part of a multi-day hike. It’s perfect for an active afternoon where you can swim and bring a picnic for lunch.
The giant Te Paki Sand Dunes are super fun day activity nearby. Here you can take a walk through the shifting dunes and rent boogie boards to fly down them in style.
Also, don’t miss out on 90 Mile Beach. You can drive on the sand if you have the right car, or book a full day Cape Reinga & 90 Mile beach tour from Paihia!
Have any questions or want to share your own experience visiting Cape Reinga? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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New Zealand Travel Planning
Jucy Van: The best way to explore New Zealand is with a Jucy camper! We spent over six weeks driving around the North and South Islands in a van and loved every moment.
Rental Car: If you’re not renting a van you’ll need a car to get around. We use Discover Cars when traveling and enjoy having the freedom to go everywhere.
Flights: It’s easy to find cheap flight deals using Skyscanner and Kayak. That’s how we got flights from Auckland to Queenstown for $40 USD, and New Zealand to Fiji for less than $150!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda. Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to if you’re traveling on a budget.
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide to find activities all over New Zealand! They have everything from tickets to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves to a Hobbiton movie set tour, and even a Northland hole in the rock dolphin cruise!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without being covered. We’ve been using SafetyWing for insurance the last few years and they are always there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
North Island New Zealand
Travel Tips & Guides: 10 Helpful NZ Travel Tips – South Island Itinerary – 25 Beautiful Beaches – Wellington to Picton Ferry – 27 Delicious Food & Drinks
Auckland & Northland: Piha Beach & Kitekite Falls – Russell – Mount Eden – Devonport Day Trip – Waiheke Island Guide – 9 Best Waiheke Wineries
Lake Taupo: 17 Fun Things to Do – Mount Tauhara Hike – Best Street Art – Taranaki Falls – Huka Falls Walk – 14 Tongariro Crossing Tips
New Plymouth: 10 Fun Things to Do – Dawson Falls – Te Rewa Rewa Bridge – Paritutu Rock Hike – Egmont National Park
Wellington: 10 Fun Things to Do – Mount Victoria Hike – Best Breweries – Cable Car & Botanical Gardens
Bay of Plenty: Tairua – Hot Water Beach – Cathedral Cove Walk – 8 Maunganui Things Not to Miss – Mount Maunganui Hike – East Cape Road Trip – How to Find Tua Tua Clams
Rotorua & Raglan: Kerosene Creek – Redwoods Treewalk – 8 Raglan Things to Do – Bridal Veil Falls
→ Explore all our South Island New Zealand Travel Tips & Guides
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