NORTHLAND

Northland is a region in New Zealand’s North Island which is loved for its ancient forests with gigantic trees, charming colonial towns, and incredible seascapes. This peninsula starts north of Auckland and covers almost 14,000 square kilometres. Northland has a subtropical climate, and temperatures below zero are quite rare. This makes north an excellent travel target!

Northland is loved for the unspoiled coastlines with loads of walking tracks, and it is home to the northernmost tip of New Zealand’s mainland: Cape Reinga. Here, you can walk up to a picturesque lighthouse and see the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet.

Most backpackers heading for Northland aim to see the massive kauri trees in Waipoua Forest. Some of the kauri trees are thousands of years old. Tāne Mahuta is known to be the most giant kauri tree alive, with a circumference of over 15 metres and a height of 45 metres. You can get a close-up encounter with the massive tree during a tour with a Maori guide, who explains the tree’s history and the significance of kauri trees.

To get a genuine impression of the size of the kauri trees in Waipoua Forest, you can join a tour during daylight. Through this magical walking trip, you’ll get to see both Tāne Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere, the kauri tree with the most immense girth in the forest. Meet the ultimate giants on this tour!

For a more beguiling experience, head to the legendary forest later on the day for a Waipoua Forest twilight encounter. This tour brings you to the same impressive trees, but the last light of the day puts an extra magical spell on the forest! 

If you’re into tramping, nature reserves, and coastal scenery, Northland is definitely worth visiting. 

Most travellers venture to Northland from Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. Auckland presents its visitors with thrilling tours. Meet local marine mammals during a whale and dolphin safari, get your thrills through a bungy jump from the Auckland Harbour Bridge, or balance on the edge of the Auckland Sky Tower - the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere!