Northland Highlights & Hidden Gems    

5-Day / 4-Night Private Tour

Departure: Auckland CBD

Finish: Auckland Domestic Airport (for flight to Queenstown)

Accommodation: Different hotels each night (as listed)

Focus: Unique natural scenery, glowworms, cultural heritage, and coastal beauty

Style: Sightseeing-focused, minimal physical thrill activities, flexible pace

Day 1 – West Coast Wonders & Giant Kauri Forests

Route: Auckland CBD – Kauri Museum – Kai Iwi Lakes – Waipoua Forest – Opononi

Depart from your Auckland CBD hotel in the morning.

Stop at the award-winning Kauri Museum in Matakohe, offering a fascinating insight into the region’s kauri logging history.

Continue to the Kai Iwi Lakes – stunning, crystal-clear freshwater dune lakes that are ideal for a scenic walk or photo stop. (They’re especially beautiful on a sunny day, though less impressive in rainy weather.)

Explore the Waipoua Forest, home to Tāne Mahuta, the largest known living kauri tree. Enjoy short forest walks through ancient native bush.

End the day with a stop at the Opononi Lookout, which provides spectacular views over the Hokianga Harbour and Opononi Sand Dunes – a great photo opportunity.

🛏 Overnight in Opononi

Day 2 – Cape Reinga Adventure via West Coast & 90-Mile Beach

Route: Opononi – Rawene Ferry – Shipwreck Bay – 90-Mile Beach – Cape Reinga – Te Paki Dunes – Pukenui

Depart Opononi at 8:00 AM and catch the Rawene Ferry across the harbour.

Head toward the remote Shipwreck Bay, located at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach—ideal for a beach walk or simply soaking up the view.

Enter 90-Mile Beach via the Hukatere Forest. Enjoy time here to walk on the sand dunes and take in the rugged coastal scenery.

Continue north to the iconic Cape Reinga, where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean dramatically collide. Walk to the lighthouse at the northernmost tip of NZ.

Explore the immense Te Paki Sand Dunes (if energy level permits)—you may choose to climb to the top for stunning views (no sandboarding required).

🛏 Overnight in Pukenui

Day 3 – Coastal Beauty, Caves & Culture

Route: Pukenui – Maitai Bay – Mangonui – Kerikeri – Kawiti Glowworm Caves – Paihia

Depart Pukenui at 8:00 AM. First stop: Maitai Bay, one of New Zealand’s most breathtaking and secluded beaches.

Continue to Mangonui for a fresh seafood lunch at the famous Mangonui Fish Shop, perched right over the water.

Visit the historic Kerikeri Mission Station, home to NZ’s oldest stone building – the Stone Store.

Take a guided 45-minute tour at the Kawiti Glowworm Caves (NZD 50 per adult), where you’ll experience thousands of glowworms twinkling in an intimate cave setting.

Arrive in Paihia for dinner and relaxation.

🛏 Overnight in Paihia

Day 4 – Choose Your Bay of Islands Experience

Enjoy a flexible day in and around Paihia, Russell, and the beautiful Bay of Islands. You can choose from one of the following:

Option 1: Scenic Cruise & Russell Exploration

Join a morning cruise from Paihia Wharf (8:30 or 9:00 AM) such as the Hole in the Rock & Island Stopovers & Dolphin Watch Tour (3–5 hours, several operators available).

In the afternoon, you and your driver will take the vehicle ferry from Opua to Russell (departing every 15 minutes), where you’ll have time to explore this charming historic town and its nearby bays.

Option 2: Waitangi Treaty Grounds with Cultural Experience

Take the vehicle ferry from Opua to Russell with your driver, and spend the morning exploring the historic town and its surrounding bays.

Afternoon: Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds with a guided tour + cultural performance (NZD 74/adult) or upgrade to the full Hāngī & Concert combo (NZD 187/adult).

2:00 PM: Guided Tour

3:00 PM: Cultural Performance

3:30–5:15 PM: Museum & Grounds

5:15 PM: Traditional Māori Hāngī Dinner & Live Concert

If you’d prefer not to join the Hāngī, your driver can take you to Haruru Falls and a local restaurant near Paihia Wharf for dinner instead.

Option 3: Scenic Drive Adventure to Oke Bay

Spend the day on a scenic coastal drive from Paihia to Russell, stopping at several gorgeous bays along the way.

Enjoy time at Oke Bay, a hidden gem with turquoise water and native bush.

Lunch in Russell, return to Paihia in the late afternoon.

🛏 Overnight in Paihia

Day 5 – Return to Auckland via Coastal Stops

Route: Paihia – Whangārei – Goat Island – Auckland Botanic Gardens – Auckland Domestic Airport

Depart Paihia in the morning and travel south.

Stop in Whangārei for coffee or a brief scenic pause.

Continue to Goat Island Marine Reserve (very beautiful), where you can enjoy ocean views or visit the nearby marine discovery centre.

If time permits, make a final stop at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, located close to the airport - for a peaceful walk among beautiful seasonal blooms, especially vibrant in spring OR do some shopping at Sylvia Park (NZ’s largest shopping center)

You’ll be dropped off at Auckland Domestic Airport by 3:45 PM, in time for your flight to Queenstown.