September 16 2026

Cape Reinga & Ninety Mile Beach: The Ultimate Northland Day Trip

around.the.world.in.flip.flops New Zealand, Oceania 0

Since I moved to New Zealand at the end of July, there has been one thing constantly on my mind: escaping the cold.

I’m still not sure moving to New Zealand in the middle of winter was my brightest idea ever because, honestly, this country is way colder than I imagined. So, in a desperate attempt to find somewhere with slightly milder temperatures, I eventually found myself Googling: “What’s New Zealand’s warmest region in winter?”

And that’s how I ended up heading north.

I’ll be honest: I had never even considered exploring this part of New Zealand. Before arriving, I was much more focused on the world-famous places I’d always dreamed of seeing, like Milford Sound and Mount Cook. Northland simply wasn’t on my radar.

But my desperate search for warmer winter weather pushed me all the way up here — and what initially felt like a necessity quickly turned into one of the best decisions I’ve made since arriving in New Zealand.

The region that started out as my plan B has now become one of my favourite places in New Zealand. And if you’re looking for a part of the country that feels a little more off the beaten path, Northland is full of hidden gems.

So keep reading to discover why I think you should head north too — and why Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach deserve a place on your New Zealand itinerary.

Cape Reinga: Why Is It So Special?

To be honest, I didn’t even know this place existed before I moved to New Zealand. Cape Reinga is definitely not one of the world-famous spots in New Zealand, but when I found out about it, I instantly knew I had to go there.

What makes Cape Reinga so special is not only the fact that it’s at the very top of New Zealand. There’s something much more powerful about this place.

Cape Reinga is one of the most special places I’ve visited in New Zealand

Did you know that Māori people call Cape Reinga Te Rerenga Wairua? It means the “leaping place of the spirits”. That’s because according to Māori tradition, Cape Reinga is where the spirits of the dead begin their final journey back to Hawaiki, their ancestral homeland.

Māori tradition tells that the spirits of the dead travel north along the coast before reaching the cape, where they descend through the roots of an ancient pōhutukawa tree and finally leave Aotearoa — New Zealand — behind.

Pretty magical, isn’t it?

Cape Reinga is a sacred place for the Māori people

Initially, I just wanted to visit because it looked like such a beautiful viewpoint, with dramatic cliffs, endless ocean and the iconic lighthouse. It’s also where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet, which makes the scenery even more spectacular.

But as I learned more about Cape Reinga, I realised that this place is much more special than a beautiful viewpoint at the top of New Zealand. It has been a place of deep spiritual significance for Māori for generations, and knowing the story behind it makes standing there feel completely different.

And honestly, I think that’s what makes Cape Reinga worth the long journey north. You’re not just going there for the view — you’re going somewhere with a story.

My Cape Reinga & Ninety Mile Beach Tour

Moving to New Zealand as a non-driver is probably one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever done. Are you wondering why I’m telling you this now? Well, going to Paihia by bus and then trying to figure out how to get all the way to Cape Reinga by public transport was the moment I was forced to admit that life in New Zealand without driving is… pretty limited.

If you’re in Paihia and want to get to Cape Reinga by public transport, you’re out of luck. There is simply no public transportation to take you there. After 10 years of living in Stockholm, where you can basically get anywhere without a car, this hurts and will take some time to get used to.

If you’re planning to travel in New Zealand without a car, this website will be your best friend. But in this case, even your bestie can’t save you. There’s literally no public bus going to Cape Reinga 🚌

But I was hell-bent on visiting Cape Reinga, so I made it my mission to find a way to get there without driving. After a bit of research, I realised there was really only one option: joining a tour.

So I emailed Fullers Bay of Islands and asked if they were interested in collaborating with me to showcase just how severely underrated this part of New Zealand still is — and they said yes!

Long story short: that day made me fall in love with the north of New Zealand. Let me show you why.

Starting the Tour in Paihia

This tour departs from Paihia at 7am. I don’t know about you, but I’m really not a morning person… so having to wake up that early is never easy for me. But knowing that I was about to head all the way north to the top of New Zealand made it much more bearable.

I left Peppertree Lodge at around 6:30am, excited about the day ahead, and somehow instantly knew it was going to be a great one. The sunrise was completely pink, and as I walked towards the meeting point, I couldn’t stop thinking:

“Moments like these are the reason why I moved to the other side of the world.”

I can’t believe Paihia is not more popular. It’s such a hidden gem in NZ

The bus stopped right in front of the Fullers Bay of Islands office, where I was welcomed by our guide, who would be leading this amazing day.

And let me tell you: George was an absolute legend. Our Māori guide was not only incredibly knowledgeable, but he even sang Māori songs for us during the journey. It was such a special way to start the day and made the long drive north feel like part of the experience itself.

If you take this tour, I hope you get George as your guide too.

The Journey North

If you’re thinking about taking a tour to Cape Reinga, you need to be prepared to spend quite a few hours on the road. I have to admit, though, that this wasn’t a problem for me at all. I actually love road trips and can happily sit and stare out the window for hours without ever getting bored.

But even if you’re someone who starts getting restless after a while, don’t worry. There wasn’t a single dull moment on the road with our guide, George. He kept us entertained with interesting facts about New Zealand and, in particular, the Northland region, also known as Te Tai Tokerau.

As a Māori man himself, George also shared stories about his own culture and what life has been like for Māori people, including some of the struggles they have faced in New Zealand.

Want to know the truth about what Māori people have faced in New Zealand? Have a look at my full guide to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds — one of the most important places to visit if you want to understand New Zealand’s history.

And then there were the views. Insanely beautiful. For some reason, I had always associated New Zealand with mountains. And yes, there are some absolutely spectacular mountain landscapes here, but the coastal views around the Bay of Islands completely stole my heart. Maybe that’s because, deep down, I’m just a beach girl.

And even when we left the coast behind, I still couldn’t get over the views. Hundreds of the cutest little baby lambs were scattered across the fields along the way. Honestly, this country feels like one giant Shire from top to bottom — and I’m absolutely not complaining.

Speaking of the Shire… If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand, you really can’t miss Hobbiton. I visited the real-life Shire earlier in my trip, and I’ve put together a complete guide covering all the tour options, prices and my best budget tips. READ IT HERE: How to Visit Hobbiton: A Complete Guide to Tours, Prices & Budget Tips (2026) 🧙‍♂️

Driving Along 90 Mile Beach

When I arrived in Paihia, I was lucky enough to make a friend at the Peppertree Lodge who invited me to join him on a road trip to Cape Reinga. Okay, technically, I invited myself when I realised he was going somewhere I desperately wanted to go but couldn’t get to by public transport — but thankfully, he was kind enough to let me tag along. 😂

Suddenly, my whole public transportation struggle and frustration had been solved. Now there was just one problem left to solve: with a regular car, we couldn’t drive along Ninety Mile Beach.

We still had an amazing day driving up to Cape Reinga, taking in all the beautiful views along the way, but I was especially excited when Fullers Bay of Islands wanted to collaborate with me on this tour. Why? Because it meant I would finally get to experience Ninety Mile Beach the way you’re supposed to — from the passenger seat of a coach cruising right along the sand.

This tour was the perfect way for me to explore 90 Mile Beach

And if you’re thinking about skipping the tour and attempting this with a regular rental car, seriously, don’t. I’ve heard several stories of people getting stuck on the beach, and even cars being swallowed by the water. Ninety Mile Beach might look like the perfect giant road, but it definitely isn’t an ordinary one — the tides and conditions can make driving there surprisingly dangerous.

⚠️ Please don’t attempt to drive along Ninety Mile Beach in a regular car. The conditions can make it dangerous.

So if this is something you want to experience, leave it to the people who know the beach inside out. Here’s something I didn’t realise before the tour: the bus that picks you up in Paihia isn’t the bus you’ll take onto Ninety Mile Beach. Partway through the journey, we switched to a much more impressive, purpose-built coach designed specifically for travelling along the sand. It sits higher than a regular coach and is built to handle the very different conditions of Ninety Mile Beach.

So when we finally reached the beach, I knew I was in good hands. This wasn’t just a regular tour bus taking a shortcut along the sand — this coach was made for it. With Fullers Bay of Islands and their experienced guides behind the wheel, I could simply sit back, enjoy the scenery and watch our coach take on one of New Zealand’s most famous beaches.

It was such a cool experience to ride this bus on the beach

Sandboarding the Dunes

And just when you think driving along a massive beach isn’t exciting enough, the tour throws in sandboarding. 🏂

Along the way, we stopped at the huge sand dunes for anyone brave enough to give it a go. The idea is simple: grab a board, climb to the top of the dune, point yourself downhill and hope for the best! It’s included as part of the tour, so you don’t need any previous experience — just a willingness to get absolutely covered in sand.

I decided to not give it a try, but watching everyone else flying down the dunes was honestly so much fun.

Cape Reinga

Then, after so many hours on the road and one of the most unique beach experiences of my life, we started approaching Cape Reinga. Even though this was my second time seeing it, I couldn’t shake the feeling of just how special this place is.

The views are gorgeous. Green hills on both sides lead you towards the northernmost tip of New Zealand, and then suddenly, the endless ocean opens up in front of you. Honestly, it’s quite magical to see the spot where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.

I can’t quite explain it, but both times I’ve been here, I’ve had this strange feeling of truly being at the end of the world. Which, to be fair, is kind of accurate…

Standing there and looking out at that endless ocean really puts into perspective just how small you are compared to nature. And honestly, that’s one of my favourite things about travelling — those moments when you’re surrounded by something so vast and powerful that you can’t help but feel incredibly small.

After spending some time taking in the views, it was time to start the long drive back to Paihia. By this point, we had been on the road for hours, so I was expecting to be completely exhausted — but honestly, I didn’t mind the journey back at all.

I just sat back, watched the landscapes go by and let the day sink in. We had driven through some incredible parts of Northland, raced along Ninety Mile Beach, climbed sand dunes, and made it all the way to the northernmost tip of New Zealand. Not a bad way to spend a day. 🌿

How Much Does this Tour Cost & What Is Included?

The Cape Reinga & Ninety Mile Beach tour currently costs NZ$195 (around 98€) per adult. Children aged 5–15 pay NZ$97.50, and there’s also a family pass for two adults and two children for NZ$487.50.

Keep in mind that these are the prices during low season. During summer, adults pay NZ$225 and children pay NZ$112 💰

I’ll be honest: it’s not the cheapest tour in New Zealand. But for travellers without a car, it’s one of very few realistic ways to get all the way up to Cape Reinga, and you’re getting quite a lot packed into those 11 hours.

Here’s what’s included:

🚌 Return transport from Paihia

🌊 Driving along Ninety Mile Beach

🏂 Sandboarding at the Te Paki sand dunes

📍 A visit to Cape Reinga and the iconic lighthouse

🎧 Guided commentary from your local guide

📸 Scenic stops and photo opportunities

🍴 Lunch

How Long Is the Cape Reinga & Ninety Mile Beach Tour?

The Cape Reinga & Ninety Mile Beach tour is a full-day experience, lasting around 11 hours. The tour departs from Paihia early in the morning and gets you back in the evening.

Yes, that’s a long day. But considering how far north you’re travelling and everything that’s packed into the itinerary, I actually think the time goes by surprisingly quickly. There are plenty of stops along the way, and the scenery alone gives you something to look at for most of the journey.

If you’re someone who gets bored sitting on a coach for hours, this probably isn’t the tour for you. But if, like me, you love road trips and don’t mind spending a good chunk of the day on the road, I’d say it’s absolutely worth it.

Best Time to Visit Cape Reinga

I visited Cape Reinga on August 8th, which is low season and the middle of winter in New Zealand. And honestly? The weather really wasn’t bad at all. We got a mix of sunshine and clouds, but the temperature was comfortable throughout the day.

That’s one thing I really noticed while travelling around New Zealand: the North Island, and especially Northland, gets much milder weather than the South Island. So if you’re looking for cheaper prices, fewer crowds, and a way to escape the colder weather down south like I did, winter can actually be a really good time to take this tour.

But if your absolute priority is warm, sunny weather and you don’t mind paying a little more, I’m sure summertime is a great option too. Honestly, is there ever really a bad time to be out exploring New Zealand? 🌿

Have I convinced you to visit Cape Reinga?

If so, I’m sure you won’t regret it. New Zealand is absolutely full of amazing places to see, and you should definitely go and see the world-famous spots that everyone is dying to visit. But please don’t make the same mistake so many tourists make: ignoring the less-visited parts of New Zealand.

Some of the country’s most incredible places are far away from the usual tourist trail, and Cape Reinga is a perfect example. So if you’re planning your trip around New Zealand, don’t just stick to the places you’ve seen all over Instagram. Get out there and explore the places that don’t get quite as much attention — you might just find your favourites there. 🌿