10 Best Things to Do in Kaitaia

1. Visit the Te Ahu Centre

A museum, café, cinema and information centre all rolled into one magnificent building, the Te Ahu Centre is a must-visit in Kaitaia.

The multipurpose community hub houses Te Ahu Museum, the Far North i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, a library, cinema, café and striking atrium decorated with pou and suspended kuaka (godwits).

The museum covers pre-European Māori history, kauri gum digging, Dalmatian settlement, timber, shipwrecks and early missionaries. Standout objects include the de Surville anchor, early carvings, pounamu and the approximately 500-year-old remains of a kurī (Polynesian dog).

Interactive exhibits and short films make it suitable for families, while general admission is by donation.

Location: Corner of State Highway One and Matthews Avenue, Kaitaia.

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2. Experience Ninety Mile Beach and Cape Reinga

The long-stretching sands of Ninety Mile Beach and the northern tip of New Zealand at Cape Reinga are on most travellers’ Northland bucket lists! Set aside a full day to tackle both of the Far North’s defining landscapes.

At the cape, an easy 800 m (875 yards) one-way path leads to the Cape Reinga Lighthouse with broad views towards the meeting waters of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean. This is a deeply significant site for Māori, so follow local tikanga: do not eat at the cape, although drinking water is permitted. Tapotupotu Bay is a better place for a picnic.

Drive north on State Highway 1 rather than attempting the beach in a rental vehicle, as rental agreements generally prohibit driving on Ninety Mile Beach.

Alternatively, join Dune Rider Unique Tours or another guided coach tour from Kaitāia for beach travel with an experienced driver who knows the tides. You’ll also experience Ninety Mile Beach as a highway and even do some dune boarding if you’re up for it!

For more information, see our guide 5 Best Things to Do at Cape Reinga.

Location: Cape Reinga is approximately 110 km (68 mi) north of Kaitāia on State Highway 1. Dune Rider Tours offers pick-ups from Kaitāia.

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3. Take a Trip to Awanui for Kauri Art and Gumdigging

Relics and stories of the kauri logging and gumdigging days are best told in the town of Awanui, just a short drive from Kaitaia. Start at Kā Uri, a visitor centre owned by Ngāti Kuri, which houses a café, gallery and shop.

Inside, you’ll find locally made gifts and woodwork crafted from ancient swamp kauri, including an enormous kauri staircase as the centrepiece. The stories shared throughout the building connect the timber with Ngāti Kuri people and the wider Far North.

Continue north to Gumdiggers Park to walk through a preserved gumfield more than 100 years old. Displays explain the difficult lives of gumdiggers, including many Dalmatian migrants, while the outdoor trail passes historic equipment and buried kauri logs more than 100,000 years old.

Location: Kā Uri – 8.4 km (5 mi) north of Kaitaia on State Highway 1. Gumdiggers Park is a further 13 km (8 mi) up State Highway 1, down Heath Road.

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4. Play Golf in Paradise

New Zealand is renowned for its picturesque golf courses, and the region around Kaitaia offers two excellent options.

Tee off at 90 Mile Beach Golf Links (formerly Kaitaia Golf Club), where the sand-based 18-hole course in Ahipara features reliable drainage and undulating fairways with coastal views. The signature par-three sixth hole can be surprisingly challenging when the wind picks up. Check out the 5 Awesome Things to Do in Ahipara for more to do nearby.

For a more polished experience, head to the championship-standard Carrington Estate Golf Course on the Karikari Peninsula. This par-72, 18-hole course crosses rolling terrain and water features, with sweeping views over wetlands, beaches, the ocean and neighbouring vineyards.

Both nine-hole and 18-hole rounds are available, with golf carts and trundlers for hire.

Location: 90 Mile Beach Golf Links – Takahe Road, Ahipara, 15 km (9 mi) east of Kaitaia in Ahipara. Carrington Estate Golf Course – 109 Maitai Bay Road, Kaitaia, 38 km (24 mi) north of Kaitaia.

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5. Walk Around Lake Ngatu

Before you are blown away by beaches, check out this charming lake walk at Lake Ngatu. This freshwater dune lake offers a pleasant escape from the coastal scenery with a family-friendly 4 km (2.5 mi) loop walk that takes approximately one hour to complete.

The easy-to-intermediate track winds around the edge of the recreation reserve where wetlands provide habitat for native plants and birds. It’s popular with local families, day visitors and water sports enthusiasts looking for a peaceful freshwater setting.

While it’s not the most breathtaking views in the Far North, the change of scenery might be welcome to those staying in the area for a while.

Location: Around 1.9 km (1.3 mi) along West Coast Road, approximately 16 km (9.9 mi) north of Kaitaia.

© Department of Conservation

6. Beachcomb at Henderson Bay

Henderson Bay offers a broad, remote sweep of sand best suited to an unhurried beach day. You’ll find the bay by following the road east across the Aupōuri Peninsula; it’s backed by dunes and low coastal vegetation, perfect for those looking to escape the busier stops along State Highway 1.

The bay is a recognised local surf spot, while swimming and snorkelling may be possible when the sea is settled. On tranquil days, spend your time beachcombing, fishing or simply walking beside the water.

The lagoon and rock pools revealed at low tide provide excellent opportunities for children to discover marine life.

Location: Henderson Bay Road, around 57 km (35 mi) north of Kaitaia off State Highway 1.

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7. Take a Trip North to Tapotupotu Bay

One of the most scenic and accessible beaches between Kaitaia and Cape Reinga is Tapotupotu Bay. Surrounded by coastal hills and native vegetation, the sheltered lagoon makes this a top spot for a picnic or a splash in the calm waters.

If you’re keen for a walk, part of the Te Paki Coastal Track passes directly through the bay; it’s a good way to stretch your legs while taking in the coastal scenery.

The beachfront campsite offers the basics (toilets, cold showers and cooking shelters), so you can even stay the night if you’re up for it.

Location: Approximately 110 km (67 mi) north of Kaitaia off State Highway 1 down Tapotupotu Road.

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8. Hike the Te Paki Coast Track

Want an awesome multi-day hiking adventure and a fantastic alternative to a New Zealand Great Walk? Consider hiking the Te Paki Coastal Track! This 48 km (30 mi) route takes three to four days to complete, showcasing the best of Cape Reinga and the Far North.

The track runs from Kapowairua/Spirits Bay to Te Paki Stream, passing ridgelines, beaches, regenerating bush, wind-shaped dunes and Cape Reinga. Despite hugging the coast, it’s far from flat; expect long climbs, exposed ridges, soft sand and sections near steep drop-offs.

Campsites are positioned along the way (some are free). If you’re short on time, tackle the Tapotupotu Bay to Cape Reinga section, which covers 5 km (3 mi) each way and takes roughly three hours one way.

Location: There are multiple entry points onto the trail. For the full track, start at Kapowairua off State Highway 1 at Waitiki Landing onto Te Hapua Road and then Spirits Bay Road (105 km/65 km north of Kaitaia). The other end of the track is at Te Paki Stream off State Highway 1 at Te Paki onto Te Paki Stream Road.

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9. Sandboard on the Te Paki Sand Dunes

Grab yourself a bodyboard (either buy one before your trip up north or they are included in bus tours, such as with Dune Rider) and hit the giant sand dunes!

These impressive dunes rise to around 150 m (492 ft) and form one of the Far North’s most striking landscapes. Just lie down on your stomach on the bodyboard, hold onto the front and control your speed by digging your feet into the sand.

Start on a small slope to get a feel for it, check your route for bumps or obstacles and keep your speed under control. You will see where the bus tours usually sandboard marked in the sand; that’s a good place to start if you are unsure where to go.

Never board towards Te Paki Stream, where buses and four-wheel-drive vehicles may be travelling.

Location: Te Paki Stream Road, 98 km (61 mi) north of Kaitaia off State Highway 1. There is a car park at the end for vehicles that are not suitable for driving on the sand.

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10. Surf at Shipwreck Bay

A short drive from Kaitāia brings you to Te Kōhanga (Shipwreck Bay), one of the region’s best-known surf spots. The bay is famous for its long left-hand point break, which is best suited to experienced surfers who can confidently navigate waves, rocks and changing conditions.

Beginners can arrange lessons or hire surfboards and wetsuits from Endless Summer Lodge, while NZ Surf Bros also offers surf lessons, tours and equipment hire in the area. At low tide, you might spot the remains of old shipwrecks scattered along the beach.

For more North Island surf options, see the 10 Places to Surf on the North Island.

Location: Access is at the end of Wreck Bay Road, Ahipara, approximately 17.5 km (11 mi) southwest of Kaitaia.

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