Get Outdoors and Go Bush in Northland

Warmth, good weather and stunning scenery are three enticing ingredients if you want to get away from it all in New Zealand over summer.

Across the country, from a few minutes to a few days there are walks to fit any level of hiking, locally known as tramping.

In Northland it’s more about coastal scenery, dense bush, tramping along beaches and cliffs, and over headlands – and there are some stunners to choose from, as well as some surprises.

Walking in New Zealand is varied and if you want to enjoy it make sure you have the right equipment.

There are plenty of gear lists to look at and some of the main items you’ll need include:

• A pack to suit the duration of your tramps (day packs are often sufficient)
• Hiking boots
• Water bottle(s)
• Rain jacket, and trousers are a good idea for a long tramp because the weather and temperatures can be unpredictable
• Clothing to suit weather conditions
• Hat, sunglasses, sunblock
• Provisions such as food, snacks, first aid kit etc

And if you are going for a long trip make sure you let someone know what you are doing – the New Zealand Outdoor Intentions Process has been set up with you in mind.

Waipoua Forest – West Coast of Northland, 3.25 hours from Auckland

The Waipoua Forest is the home of Tane Mahuta, the Lord of the Forest, a vast Kauri tree estimated to be between 1,250 and 2,500 years old and the largest living Kauri in New Zealand.

Kauri are some of the biggest trees in the world by volume.  Tane Mahuta is 50 metres high and contains about 245 m3 of wood.

This magnificent tree is just a five minute walk from State Highway 12 that winds through the dense sub-tropical rainforest of Waipoua.

Majestic and even regal the tree is an awesome sight and around it there are a few other short walks through the forest to other Kauri stands.

Tane Matua Ngahere is the second largest and is a 20 minute walk from the road.  There is also the Four Sisters stand, about 10 minutes into the forest and the Yakas Tree, the 7th largest, about a 40 minute walk.

If you want something a little more challenging there is the one hour advanced walk to the historic Waipoua Forest Lookout Tower.

You could quite easily spend a few hours enjoying the walks in the Waipoua Forest where the peace is only disturbed by the rustle of leaves as the wind strokes the canopy, the call of the Tui and other native birds.

Cape Brett – the outermost tip of the Bay of Islands

At two days duration Cape Brett is an entirely different type of tramp.

The walk is coastal and on the outer most peninsula of the Bay of Islands across rugged scenery to the end of the Cape and the lighthouse settlement.  There are also side-tracks to secluded beaches for swimming and snorkelling, if you have enough room in your pack for flippers, a mask and snorkel!

It can be windy at the top but you will be rewarded with spectacular views to the sea below where dolphins and seals can often be seen close to shore.

It’s long at 8 hours one way and has accommodation at the end in the Cape Brett Hut that has 23 bunks, cooking facilities and mattresses.  If you are not up for this length of walk there’s also the option to get a water taxi to Deep Water Cove, from where it’s a 2.5 hour trek to the hut.

Whatever way you choose, this is a “stunning, blow the cobwebs away” type of walk in one of the most famous bays in New Zealand.

Paihia to Opua walkway, Bay of Islands

One of the most conveniently located walking tracks in Northland goes from the holiday hotspot of Paihia to Opua just 6kms to the south-east.

The path is a well-maintained undulating coastal walk and if tackled at low tide some of it will be along the beach.

It’s a three hour walk past beautiful bays and over headlands.  There’s plenty of opportunity to watch seabirds and boats passing by.  

Being so close to Paihia it’s a great way of enjoying a walk and not being too far away from town – so it’s easy to arrange a lift back, unless you want to walk of course!

Highly recommended for a relaxed walk and for people not up for a serious tramp!

The Bream Head – Te Whara Track

The Bream Head track follows an ancient Maori track from Urquharts Bay to Ocean Beach, south east of Whangarei.

A reasonable level of fitness and experience is needed to walk over this headland at the out reaches of the main commercial harbour in Northland.  It’s a 5-6 hour walk, which of course depends on how long you linger at the top to take in the view.

The track passes through some of the best coastal forest in the North Island and at the summit, you can enjoy a magnificent coastal panorama from Motukokako (Cape Brett) in the north to Tawharanui (Cape Rodney) in the south, as well as offshore islands Tawhiti Rahi and Aorangi (Poor Knights), Marotere (Hen and Chickens group), Hauturu (Little Barrier) and Aotea (Great Barrier) in the far east.

Going from West to East you will end up at Ocean Beach, a beautiful sandy bay sweeping northwards and a very popular summer spot for day trippers from Whangarei.

Mangawhai Heads Walkway

Popular and one of the best walks in this part of Northland, the Mangawhai Heads Walkway will take you 20 minutes along the beach from the Mangawhai Surf Club, 20 minutes up a sleep track and then along the ridge with beautiful views to the surf below and out to the distant islands.

This is a high-quality well-maintained walkway through scrub, native bush and farmland, and ideal if you have a medium amount of experience – in total it’s about a 2-3 hour round-trip tramp.

One of the more unusual features is the locally known “Giant’s Staircase” a huge natural amphitheatre carved out of the steep hill sides.

The walk is open for ten months of the year and only closed in September and October for lambing and calving.

If you are on a walking tour the best way to go from place to place is by car – it’s convenient, flexible and you have the freedom to go where and when you want.

Always try to leave your car in a secure place and don’t leave valuables and personal travel documents inside.  An option is get a tourist shuttle to the start and end points of popular walks and sometimes it’s best to just take a smaller pack and leave the rest of your gear where you are staying.  

Have a great time going bush and remember we drive on the left side of the road – if you need some tips on New Zealand driving a good website is Drivesafe.

Most importantly – have fun!