A visit to Tiritiri Maatangi Island

The island is a pest free scientific reserve and is home to many native species of flora and fauna as well as birds. It is one of the most successful conservation projects in the world and is also referred to as the "Treasure Island".

Time to get there : 
A  little over an hour by ferry  - Fuller's 360 Discovery
The ferry starts at 9am and returns at 3:30pm on the same day. There is an option to stay the night, which will require a booking at the bunkhouse.

Cost : 
70 NZD for return fare for a person on the ferry plus extra for coffee and snacks. Add on the cost for lunch. We carried a home cooked meal.


What to wear :
Comfortable clothes depending on the weather. Layer up would be my recommendation. It gets a bit cold on the ferry and when exposed to the sea at the beach in winter/spring.
Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes - can get slushy in some parts especially if after a rain.

Things to carry :
* Sufficient Drinking Water - there is water available at the store
* Lunch - packed in a sealed container - to deter rodents and other pests
* Snacks
* Garbage bag - you must carry away all your rubbish
* A rain jacket
* Sun hat
* Sunscreen
* Good camera
* Binoculars
* Sunglasses

 If staying overnight, ensure to pack more food.

Things to do :

• Walking

In this post I will cover the walking tracks as this is what we went there for. Along with walking, we managed to do quite a bit of bird watching as well.

The walks are suitable for all kinds of walkers and are not strenuous. There are parts which have a few steps but you can always do it at your own pace. There are numerous spots to have a wee bit of relaxation and watch the birds enjoy the birdbaths in place. There are a multitude of short walks which can be connected together to make a longer walk.

This link mentions all the walks.

• Wattle Track - Wharf to Lighthouse - under 30 minutes. There is an option to do this on the road

• Hobbs Beach Track - Wharf to Hobbs beach - under 10 minutes. Take in the beautiful views of Rangitoto and Auckland. Don't miss the penguin nesting boxes on the left hand side

View of Rangitoto Island from Hobb's Beach

•  Kawerau Track - Hobb's Beach to Ridge Track - under 40 minutes. A scenic walk with loads of opportunities to view some birds like saddleback, tui, wood pigeons, rifleman
• Ridge road/track - connects from Kawerau track to the lighthouse - under 30 minutes. Most of this is on gravel road.
• East Coast Track - about 90 minutes. This is a very scenic track with a few steep sections.  

If you have some extra time you could combine these walks for a longer walk.

• Wattle Track - Lighthouse - Wattle Track loop track - about 1 hour
• Hobbs Beach Track - Kawerau Track - Ridge Track - Wattle Track -  loop track  - about 3 hours

• Kayaking 
• Diving and Snorkelling
• Bird watching
• Relax on beach/Swimming
• Shop at the store
• Enjoy a free tea/coffee

Other things to note :
Since the island is pest free, you must ensure that all your gear is free of rodents and other pests. Brushes are provided before getting onto the ferry as well as at the concrete landing to free any lose particles on shoes.

Do try to avoid dropping food and doing your best to pick up what does fall.


History :  
Originally cleared for farming, the island was known for the light house, Tiritiri light. As years progressed, a foghorn was installed.  After more than a decade, the pastoral land has been eradicated of all pests and native trees were replanted. This helped reintroduce native species too.

View from the East Coast Track

Lighthouse area

Another view from East Coast Track

View of Rangitoto Island

View of Rangitoto Island from Hobb's Beach

Crystal clear calm waters

When the clouds imitated the macrocarpa tree

Road trip - ChristChurch to ChristChurch - a review of food, accomodation and activities with some trivia

Going on a holiday and making the most out of it, requires a lot of time spent on research. Our main intention was to explore the South Island by road and do as many side walking trails as possible.

A lot of sites have itineraries for road trips across the South Island but don't really mention the activities or the amount of time that one could have to do a little bit of exploring - may be on foot or activities (you are in the adventure capital of the world).

Here is the story of our first campervan trip in the South Island, New Zealand, with what we did and could do and what we could not or did not want to do. We did end up rushing the last few days - after day 9.

Trip details - Christchurch - Lake Tekapo - Oamaru - Dunedin - The Catlins - Invercargill - Bluff - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown - Glenorchy - Arrowtown - Wanaka - Glaciers - Hokitika - Christchurch
Day 1 : Auckland to Lake Tekapo
Day 2 : Lake Tekapo to Oamaru
Day 3 : Oamaru to Dunedin
Day 4: Dunedin to Invercargill.
Day 5: Invercargill to Milford Sound via Te Anau
Day 6: Milford Sound to Queenstown via Te Anau
Day 7 : Exploring Queenstown
Day 8 : Queenstown to Wanaka
Day 9 : Wanaka to Hokitika via the glaciers
Day 10 : Hokitika to Christchurch
Day 11 : Christchurch to Auckland

Trivia :

• Scenic Route from Christchurch upto Queenstown
• Total kms covered by road - 2,275kms
• 18th  April, 2014 to 28th April, 2014
• This was quite an ambitious trip and we ended up doing nothing else but mostly driving on a couple of days
• We could not use deals on bookme as we were not really sure of the timing and where we would be but we did manage to grab a few deals from the AA and Jasons magazines.

Day 1 : Auckland to Lake Tekapo (1.5+3.5 hours) 
Today includes a flight to Christchurch, hiring a campervan and driving to Lake Tekapo via Ashburton and Geraldine.

Lake Tekapo gets it turquoise colour from the 'rock flour' that is dispersed in the lake. The rocks are ground by the glaciers higher up.
Lake Tekapo houses many hydro power generating stations and is also know for fishing and boating.

Background : All radio stations screaming of bad weather and road blocks.
Also, a public holiday - Good Friday so stocking up on essentials was a bit tough. Public holidays in New Zealand can make life really difficult - more so when the big super market chains close down as well.

Transport :

• Flights from Auckland to Christchurch for 2 - 500$ - 1.5 hours
• Campervan hire - 99$ for the day
• Fuel charges - 64$ 
• Christchurch to Lake Tekapo - 3.5 hours 

Food : 

• Breakfast - Moko Cafe, Regent Street 
• Hearty sized portions
• Cost for 2 portions plus coffee - 24$
• Lunch - Robbie's Bar and Bistro, Ashburton
• Lovely ambience 
• Friendly staff
• Cost of 1 main and 1 beer - 25$
• Dinner - self made sandwiches

Activities : 

• Antartic Centre
• Cost : 56$ per person including the Hagglund ride
• Simulated storm not to be missed
• Ice water competition is fun if not already tried it at Kelly Tarlton's in Auckland
• Hagglund ride is a different experience
• Blue penguin feeding is very informative
• Spend about 2 hours
• Church of the good shepherd
• Cost : Free
• Must visit
• Beautiful place to walk around
• Can spend about an hour or so walking around the lake - around the evening
• Walk near Lake Tekapo 
• About 45 minutes post dinner

Stuff that we missed cause of the public holiday
* Ashburton flight museum - usually open between 1pm - 3 pm
* Geraldine Vintage Car Museum

Stay :
Lake Tekapo Holiday Park and Motel

• Price - 15$ per person for a non powered site plus 2$ for a hot shower
• Beautiful location - only thing they got going for them
• Nil equipment in the kitchen
• Showers are without any proper ventilation 
• Free BBQs

Total Cost : 875$ including some bits and odds

Day 2 : Lake Tekapo to Oamaru (2.5 hrs)
Today includes a walk up Mt. John, breakfast at the breathtakingly beautiful Astro Cafe, stocking up on supplies and heading to Oamaru to see the Blue Penguin Colony.

Transport :
Campervan hire - 99$ per day
Fuel charges - 63$
Lake Tekapo to Oamaru - 2.5 hours

Food : 

• Breakfast - Astro Cafe
• A sandwich and hot chocolate - 12$
• Breathtaking views
• Lunch
• Boiled eggs and bread
• Dinner
• Grilled salmon - salmon bought at Twizel for 13$, self grilled

Activities:

• Mt. John Walkway
• Cost - Free
• 1.5 hours return
• Moderate climb
• 360 degree views of Lake Tekapo and beyond and the mountains
• Visit Astro Cafe for a quick bite
• Lake Pukaki Scenic Lookout and Twizel Salmon
• Cost - Free
• Can purchase farmed salmon
• Lovely views
• Walk around the Oamaru Victorian Precinct
• Cost - free
• About 30-45 minutes 
• Blue Penguin Colony, Oamaru
• Cost -  48$ for 2 - with some discount for holding a YHA membership card
• Get educated on blue penguins
• See the blue penguins get washed ashore while returning from feeding in the sea
• The number of penguins that you see depends on the time of the year and your patience
• We saw over 80 penguins

Stuff that we missed
* Night star gazing at the observatory due to bad weather
* Elephant rocks - just missed it as we were arguing and drove right past
* SteamPunk HQ

Stay : 
Waitaki Waters Holiday Park

• 29$ for 2 people for 1 night for a non-powered site
• Well equipped kitchen
• Friendly staff

Total Cost :  270$ including bits and odds

Day 3 : Oamaru to Dunedin (1.5 hours)
Today includes visiting the Moeraki Boulders(a natural wonder), Larnach Castle and Alan's Beach which meant driving around the Otago Peninsula. There are other paid activities such as the Yellow Penguin Place, Albatross Centre which we decided to give a miss as we thought it would be best to see the animals in the wild rather than under human influence.

Transport :
Campervan hire - 99$
Fuel - 57$
Oamaru to Dunedin - 1.5 hrs

Food : 

•  Breakfast 
• Self made bread and eggs
• Lunch
• Self made sandwiches
• Dinner - Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
• Cost - 59.50$ for 2 mains and 2 beer
• Good food
• Nice ambience

Activities :

• Sunrise at the beach in Oamaru
• Cost - free
• Our first cobbled beach experience
• Secluded except for a couple of fishermen
• 45 minutes
• Moeraki Boulders
• Cost - donation of personal choice
• A natural wonder
• South Island's most photographed natural wonder
• Perfectly spherical boulders made due to chemical reactions in the limestone 
• Can also visit the cafe about which I don't have too much to say 
• 30 minutes
• Shag Point - Fur Seals and Sea lions in their natural habitat
• We may have missed this one if not for the free touring map by Jasons. 
• We saw so many fur seals up close and personal.  
• Not too many people - looks like a best kept secret
• 30 minutes to an hour or more
• Larnach Castle
• Cost - 50.40$ for two (including 10% discount coupon)
  
• Lovely garden and well maintained house
• Can be missed as you get better views for free
• Alan's Beach
• Can see yellow eyed penguins and seals, if you are lucky
• Gravel road makes for an uncomfortable drive with a 2WD vehicle
• Explore the town center
• Post dinner we walked around the town center
• Stunning architecture

Stuff we missed
* Yellow Eyed Penguin Place
* Albatross Centre
* Dunedin Botanic Gardens
* Sandfly Bay - similar to Alan's Beach
* Gypsy Fair - Arrggh!! It made me sad that despite being gypsies for those few days, we missed it - sheer foolishness on  our part.

Stay : 
Dunedin Holiday Park and Motel

• Cost - 36$ for 2 for a non powered site
• Super market/Stores a stone's throw away
• Very close to the beach
• Quite a popular place
• Ill-equipped kitchen

Total Cost : 305$ including odds and bits

Day 4: Dunedin to Invercargill. (3.5hrs)
Following the scenic route brochure that we had picked up, we decided to go to Invercargill via The Catlins. On the way we visited Kaka Point, Nugget point and also made it to the Bluff. It being Easter Monday we missed out on Bluff Oysters in their land.

Travel :  
Campervan hire : 99$
Fuel : 51$

Food :  

• Breakfast
• Self made sandwiches
• Lunch 
• Self made stuff
• Dinner - Speight's Ale House
• Cost - 43$
• Nice ambience
• Unfortunately had run out of the beer that was on promotion for a limited time
• Was one of the few rare places open considering the public holiday

Stay : 
Beach Road Holiday Park

• Cost - 28$ for two persons
• Surcharge on credit cards

Activities :

• Nugget Point 
• Lovely views
• Come face to face with how nature deals with the harshness of nature
• Tiny baby seals playing - need a pair of binoculars
•  A nice walk
• Tautuku Bay
• Florence Hill Lookout
• See how nature changes what we see
• Explore bluff
• Learn a bit more history and enjoy great  views

Stuff we missed due to lack of time
* Jack's Blowhole
* A visit to Stewart Island

Total Cost : 250$ (Including bits and odds and stocking up on essentials)

Day 5: Invercargill to Milford Sound via Te Anau (4.5 hrs)
Today we drive to Te Anau. On the way we confirmed a Milford Sound Cruise and stay at Milford Sound. We also do a few walks on the way to Milford Sound as planned.

Travel :
Campervan hire : 99$
Fuel : 110$

Food : 

• Breakfast
• Self cooked
• Lunch
• Self cooked sandwiches
• Dinner - Blue Duck Cafe and Bar
• Cost - 48$
• Happening place considering it is the only place open
• Cool ambience
• Loved their kitchen

Activities :

• Lake Gunn Walkway
• A 45 min walk through beech wood forest
• Teeming with birdlife
• Amazing views of Lake Gunn
• Loads of trivia about beech trees 
• Very easy walk
• Mirror Lakes
• Teeming with people
• All bus tours stop here so this should be visited when there is no crowd
• 15 minutes walk and viewing
• Homer Tunnel Walk
• A short walk to understand the flora and fauna of the harsh terrain
• Lovely views
• Appreciate the sharp contrast to the other side of the tunnel, once you drive through
• The Chasm 
• Work of art by nature
• Sheer force of water
• 15-20 minutes walk and viewing
• Milford Sound Cruise
• Cost : 70$ per person including free tea/coffee
• Amazingly beautiful sounds
• Fur seals
• Get bathed in pristine waters from a waterfall
• 2.5 hour cruise

Stay : Milford Sound Lodge 

• Cost - 44$ for two - most expensive
• Worst in all our travel
• Was just a car park with zero views
• Ill equipped kitchen 
• Bad roads to get there

Total Cost : 375$ including bits and odds

Day 6: Milford Sound to Queenstown via Te Anau (5 hrs)
Travel :

• Campervan hire - 99$ 
• Fuel - 50$

Food :

• Breakfast - self made sandwiches
• Lunch - Self cooked noodles and baked beans
• Dinner  - Bombay Palace, Frankton
• Amazing ambience
• We took our food for a candle light dinner by the lake front
• Good biryani
• Nice sides though we missed the pepper in the pepper chicken 
• Cost - 36$ - we did use it the next day for lunch as well

Activities :

• Lake Marian walk
• A steep climb
• 3 hrs return
• We missed the views due to bad weather but it was rated 2nd in the list of must do walks at the Milford Sound Lodge
• Explore Frankton LakeFront
• Candlelight dinner at the lake front
• Council provided Barbecue available for use
• Council provided seating available too

Stuff we missed cause of lack of time, wet shoes and bad weather
* Kepler track
* Key Summit track

Stay  : Frankton Motor Camp

• Cost - 36$ for two persons per night
• Items for kitchen use available for loan from office - I quite like this idea
• Lovely location - right at the waterfront under kowhai trees - a romantic can't ask for more

Total Cost : 230$

Day 7:  Exploring Queenstown
We were so satisfied with the relaxed and lovely atmosphere of the Frankton Motor Camp that we decided to stay a day more. We explore Glenorchy and try to find Paradise.

Transport :

• Campervan hire - 99$
• Fuel - 50$

Food : 

• Breakfast - self made sandwiches
• Lunch - leftover from Bombay Palace
• Dinner - Frankton Arm Tavern
• Cost -  56$ for 2 mains and 2 beers
• Amazing ambience
• Lovely fireplace which was taken by locals
• Good food
• Really friendly staff

Activities :

• Queenstown walk from Belfast Terrace
• 360 degree views
• 2-3 hrs return
• Steep climb but well worth the views
• Explore Glenorchy and the search for paradise 
• A 45 minute drive from Queenstown
• Beautiful Lagoon Walkway
• A semi gravel road drive to Paradise
• Eat world famous carrot cake at "The Trading Post" in Glenorchy 
• A short exploration of the 12 mile delta where we stopped for lunch
• Lake Diamond walk
• a lake in the shape of an eight

Stuff we missed  due to lack of interest and time
* Frankton Lakefront walkway
* Exploring the crowded town centre
* Skyline Gondola
* Paragliding
* Shotover Jet
* Million Dollar Cruise

Stay : Frankton Motor Camp

• Cost - 36$ for two persons 

Total Cost : 260$ including short eats

Day 8: Queenstown to Wanaka (1 hr excluding time spent in Arrowtown)
When we explore the true colours of Autumn and exercise our brains at the Puzzling World!

Transport :

• Campervan hire - 99$
• Fuel - 50$

Food :

• Breakfast - Arrowtown Bakery Cafe
• Cost - 12$
• Snug place
• Yumm food 
• Lunch - Uncle John's Pizzeria
• Cost - 14$ for a burnt calzone and "1" fried bluff oyster
• One word - Avoid!!
•  Snacks - Puzzling world
• Cost -  10$
•  Dinner - Self cooked

Activities:

• Explore Arrowtown
• Quaint town
• Known for Autumn Colours
• Hosts Autumn Festival
• Zero crime 
• Explore the lakefront
• Puzzling world and the Great Maze
• Cost - 32$ including a 10% discount voucher
• A must visit - great fun
• Exercise your brain
• Purchase some more puzzles to further exercise your brain
• Outlet track
• About 1.5 hours along the river side
• Flat easy walk

Stuff that we missed due to my wet shoes
*Mt Roy walk
*Mt Iron walk

Stay : Lake Outlet Holiday Park

• Cost - 28$ for two persons plus 1$ for a hot shower
• Beautiful views
• Easy walks start from here
• Liked the fact that they sold stuff at the office - convenience matters
• Hot shower did not work

Total Cost : 275$  including short eats

Day 9 : Wanaka to Hokitika via glaciers (5 hrs)
In spite of the long drive, we did fit in a lot of walks.

Transport

• Campervan hire - 99$
• Fuel - 110$

Food : 

• Breakfast - self cooked
• Lunch - Haast World Heritage Frontier cafe
• Cost - 37$ - a main and a beer
• Vintage ambience
• Good local food 
• Dinner - self cooked

Activities : 

• Blue Pools Walkway
• 30 minutes return
•  Through beech/tahina forest, across a swinging bridge to the mouth of the blue river
• If you are lucky, you can see rainbow trout
• Thunder Creek falls
• 5 minute return
• Just as the name suggests - a sudden bolt of water falling from a height
• Fantail falls
• 5 minutes return
• As the name suggests, a waterfall that looks like the outline of a fantail.
• Fox Glacier Te Moeka o Tuawe Valley Walk
• 1 hour return depends on your agility to cross streams
• Takes you to a view that gives you a frontal view of the glacier
• Cross a surging stream - which can be tricky
• Lake Matheson walk
• Lake Matheson is famous for the reflective view of Mt Cook
• We did just the first point of interest but the bride, read Mt Cook, was too shy to come out from behind the veil, read the clouds.

Stay : Hokitika Holiday Park

• Cost - 28$ for two for a night
• Very good facilities
• Hosts let their expectations well known

Total Cost : 285$ includings bits and odds

Day 10 : Hokitika to Christchurch (3.5 hrs)

There was just one worry on my mind for this day and that was the weather. I heard that Arthur's Pass could be closed due to bad weather and since the weather had not been particularly good, I wanted to make sure that we get to Christchurch on time. We did nothing but drive all the way to Christchurch today. The views were great and an enjoyable drive. 

We were in Christchurch by lunchtime and spent most of our day inside a motel room cause most businesses were closed as it was a Sunday.

Transport 

• Campervan hire - 99$
• Fuel -  60$

Food :

• Breakfast - self cooked 
• Lunch and Dinner - Pedro's House of Lamb
• Cost - 36$
• Huge Portions

Activities :

• Relax
• Explore Hagley's Park in the city of gardens

Stay :
Ashford Motor Lodge

• Cost - 120$ for a one bedroom apartment
• Comfortable and clean
• Eco friendly

 Total Cost : 315$


Campervan review : 
Company : CamperCo

• Sturdy, dependable vehicle.
• Had all that we needed for our trip.
• Cost per day 99$ with no excess
• Hired for 11 days
• The only grouse was the lack of charging points. You can either run the freezer box or charge *ONE* device at a time.
• Also, we forgot to take our AUX input cable. I am sure that we could have asked Ross from CamperCo but decided not to as it was Easter time and did not want to disturb him. The radio works most of the time and it was good as we got the weather updates as we needed them.

Summer walks in Auckland - Te Ara Tahuna Walkway

I dragged my feet, the 1.5kms, to work on Friday. I wanted to get used to the routine again. The holidays had just fled past and now are like a good dream. This weekend now seems like just any other weekend at the end of a working week.

We were to meet up with friends and acquaintances over the weekend but I was too much into my book to care. I wonder how it is that I never read "Gone with the wind" earlier. It was in too much demand at the library. In spite of its length, I related with Scarlett O'Hara in so many ways. I just had to finish the book before work started off. And not to mention the assignments from the science of cooking course.

No concrete plans were made for the weekend with the impending rain. But the gray skies and cool winds beckoned to me and I worded the wish to go for a long walk. The husband immediately took to it and I was thrilled that I would be sitting at some scenic spot and reading my book.

The NZ Herald had recently published an article on summer walks in Auckland and how could I not choose the one near Orewa beach, the beach I had fallen in love with on our way back after our trip North. We had some methi peas parathas from breakfast which we packed for lunch. So in an hour we were out the door.

The Te Ara Tahuna Walkway is shared by cyclists and pedestrians. One must stick to their left and try to give the cyclists way. It is a loop track that goes round the Orewa estuary which is surrounded with multi million dollar houses. So, basically we went on a walk through the backyards of millionaires and beyond. It is about 5.5kms of walking through people's backyards on cemented paths with a bit of unsealed road. The best part is the remaining 2 kms where one walks through fields and a bit of forest. It is amazing to find the forest, in the middle of nowhere to be teeming with bird life. We spotted so many of the birds on the ground. Binoculars and a guide to the birds in Auckland are on my to buy list. The walkway is lined with view points overlooking the estuary and each point has a wooden seat which has some of the best wooden engravings. The path is not very well marked as all other tracks that we have taken. We did lose our way but thanks to the GPS signal and the network, we were back on the track easily. It is easy to get lost considering you are walking through a web of backyards.

 Little Fox Eats

 Pain Au Raisin

 My reading spot

Apart from the forest stretch, stopping for a short snack at the Little Fox Eats truck and at a small grassy patch to read my book were the highlights for me. The Pain Au Raisin that is made in France, snap frozen and sent over was delicious and filling. Ice blocks in different flavours can be tried when the sun is not beating down upon you, else you may find yourself standing with just the stick in your hand.

A short get together with friends at the Orewa beach with a game of cricket ended the day on a sweet note. All in all, a walk that should really be a bicycle ride. 

Road tripping across Northland and some trivia

Well no..not a recipe in spite of the break in my posts. Blame it on holiday planning and then the actual holiday. I am now in my siesta period - the recuperating vacation after a vacation and doing all the catch up that is needed.

Coming from India, it is a rude shock to see things fill up so fast in a small, sparcely populated country. Motels have fewer than 10 rooms and so during a holiday season, good rooms at good prices are hard to come by.  And being a piscean don't help one bit.. nopes. Fickle mindedness can be a very nasty trait to put up with...  ummm for your partner. (Wicked!!)

Well, finally we booked a mix of backpacker and motel accomodation over 6 nights to explore Northland. We went up the west coast from Auckland to Dargaville and from there to Kaitaia to Cape Reinga, the northern most tip, and came down the east coast via Kerikeri, Paihia and Whangarei.

The Kauri Museum :
It was a vacation filled with activities. High on adrenaline after diving out of a plane at 16500 feet, we took the 2 hour odd drive to Dargaville. Enroute, we visited the Kauri Museum at Matakohe. An entrance fee of 25 NZD per person buys you nauseousness from the rich smells of Kauri wood. On a serious note, it is breathtaking to see the size that a kauri trunk can grow to. Indulge in the spectacular food from the Gumdiggers cafe located on the same premises. Visit the matakohe school as well as old post office to feel like you got a good bargain for your 25 NZD.  Strong urges to splurge at the museum store must be fought with as the things are very very highly priced. The same tee shirt is available for half the price at other stores.

Destination Dargaville and Tokatoka peak:
Tokatoka peak provides a 360 degree view and is about a 10 minute steep climb from the main road.
Dargaville is a small town on SH16 and is known for the Kai Iwi Lakes and Waipoa forests where one can see the great Tane Mahuta. An old school serves as a backpackers accomodation and if you can overlook the sirens of the neighbouring police station, The Greenhouse Backpackers is a good place to stay at. It is closely located to all supermarkets and restaurants.

Kai Iwi Lakes and Tane Mahuta :
Located at about 30 minutes from Dargaville town center is Kai Iwi Lakes - 3 fresh water lakes formed in between mountains from rain water. They are breathtakingly beautiful and a popular camping ground is situated closeby.
Next is the Waipoua forests where one could go camping and trekking.
Tane Mahuta - the Lord of the Forest - the largest living Kauri tree. Kauri trees are native of NZ and large kauri forests have been buried under the earth for years now. Scientists believe that a huge Tsunami caused these forests to get submerged underground not once but 3 times around. They have soft roots which do not go deep into the ground and this makes them more sensitive to pressure. They take years to mature and grow to their full height. These trees have self healing capabilities eliminating knots, providing great timber for furniture. Their gum was used for varnishes and resins.

Cape Reinga, Tapotupotu Bay and 90 mile beach :
An overnight stay at Kaitaia is important if one is to take the bus tour to Cape Reinga. Don't be misled and believe me when I tell you that you can drive all the way to Cape Reinga. It has been 2 years since the road has been paved. The only thing you won't be able to do if you don't have a 4 wheel drive vehicle is the 90 mile drive along the beach. Well, it is not 90 miles but about 98 kilometres but since 90 mile sounds cool, it is called that. Who cares right? Well, the beach drive is not much fun.
Tapotupotu bay made me breathless. The blueness of the ocean on a sunny day is from some picture. Limitless shade sof blue. Again, a popular camping ground.
Cape Reinga is the northernmost tip of Northland to us commoners. If one is a scientist, there is another tip which is part of a scientific reserve which is actually the northern most tip. There is a coastal track that takes one 3.5 hours from Cape Reinga to Tapotupotu bay.
Avoid the bus tour if you want to do any trekking - you get about 40 minutes at Cape Reinga with 5 bus loads, at the minimum, of people.

Tapotupotu Bay90 mile beach

KeriKeri:
A rustic little unspoilt town midway on the east coast is Kerikeri, home to the oldest stone store, rainbow falls, the parrot place, Palmco gardens and the famous Matakana Chocolate House. Rainbow falls was serene with almost no one at 9 am. It is called so cause of the 7+ tiny falls that make the whole falls. Avoid the parrot place if you don't like seeing trapped birds, more if you have to pay a 10 dollar entry fee.You do get a handful of peanuts to feed the birds and if you are too shy to do that, feed yourself. The Kerikeri belt is known for Macadamia nuts and that's what the Matakana Chocolate House is all about - Macadamia nuts and Chocolate.

Paihia :
The San Francisco of Northland. Crowded with a famous pier lined with restaurants and water based activities. It is known for its pohutukawa lined white sandy beaches but hey Orewa beach is the same and less crowded or commerctial. Fortunately we stopped just for lunch. However, if you are keen, you could go to the Aquarium by the bay, swimming with the dolphins and parasailing.

Whangarei :
Whangarei is a huge port town. We stayed at this rustic eco place called "Little Earth Lodge" where you are away from network coverage, close to glow worm caves, in the middle of a beautiful birdsongs and beautiful views.

We went on a fishing trip here which was a mixed experience. At some point your consciousness does kick in and one stares at the ocean wondering why one paid 85$  to sit amidst 20 odd people who are trying to get the bang for their buck.

Shakespear Regional Park, North Island

A perfect weekend getaway in summer would be the Shakespear Regional Park, 40 minutes away from Auckland city. It is a peninsular which now boasts of an Open Sanctuary. Gates are open from 6am to 9pm and there are options for camping onsite as well but you do need to book apriori if planning to camp. There is also the YMCA lodge where you could get to stay for the night. However, for an unplaned weekend, this is a good option when you decide an outing on an impulse.

The Shakespear Regional Park is now maintained by the Auckland City Council and is free to enter as well has ample parking space. One could go swimming, fishing, paddle boating, canoeing, kayaking, paragliding, boating, sailing, hiking, mountain biking or picnicing. The park has 3 walking trails to boast of which are graded "Easy".

• Lookout Trail - 1 hour return  - 2.5kms
• Heritage Trail - 2 hours return - 3.9 kms
• TiriTiri Trail - 2 hours return - 4.8kms

If you have a few hours to spare there, do the lookout trail which has a breathtaking 360 degree view. If you have half a day, you could opt for 2 trails or you could do one trail and picnic there. For a full day there, you could end the day with a walk to explore the glow worms display at The Waterfall Gully which is closeby.

We went there for half a day and did one trail - the TiriTiri trail. It shares a part of the Lookout trail so you get the good views too. It goes through beach, grassy meadows and native forest. 

What to wear :

If doing the TiriTiri trail try to avoid shorts as you will walk through the native forest with a few thorny bushes. 

The sun can be harsh so wear a thin cotton full sleeves top. 

Don't forget to apply enough sunscreen.

What to carry:

Food is not available there so please do carry your trek/picnic grub. 

Sunscreen

Swimwear

Towels

Camera

Sunhat

Sunglasses

Beach mat
A water bottle
A rubbish bag as you have to take back all your rubbish

Be careful about the rocky beach/sea floor which can easily cut while you head out ot swim.