Cape Reinga in New Zealand

Let’s be honest: many travelers visiting New Zealand have barely heard of Cape Reinga, let alone considered making the long journey there. Yet the famous Cape Reinga is a remarkable place to discover. It has everything you could hope for: a beautiful road leading to the cape, wonderful landscapes in every direction, several activities, and a very special atmosphere.

I had just returned in October 2017 from a three-week road trip around New Zealand, during which we had planned to spend several days at Cape Reinga as part of our North Island itinerary. We wanted to enjoy an area that felt less heavily visited than the major tourist destinations around Rotorua, Tongariro, and the Bay of Islands.

The cape has profound spiritual significance for Māori, who believe that the spirits of the dead travel to Cape Reinga before departing for the ancestral homeland of Hawaiki. In this article, I introduce the main things to see and do around Cape Reinga.

I would genuinely recommend Cape Reinga to anyone exploring New Zealand’s North Island. At the end of the article, I explain how to get there, which routes you can take, and the available alternatives. First, here are five interesting things to see and do in the area.

You may be wondering whether it is really possible to drive along the beach. Ninety Mile Beach, on the west coast of the Far North, is legally treated as a road, but driving there is far more complicated and dangerous than it may appear. It is suitable only for four-wheel-drive vehicles and confident drivers with off-road experience. Tides, soft sand, streams, changing beach conditions, and limited access points can all create serious problems.

Do not simply follow existing tire tracks and assume the route is safe. Check the tide times, local conditions, and access points before entering the beach, and never drive close to the water. Vehicles regularly become stuck or are damaged by the incoming tide. For most visitors, joining an organized coach tour is the safest and simplest way to experience the beach.

In practice, you will usually not be allowed to take a rental car onto Ninety Mile Beach, as most rental contracts explicitly prohibit it. Ignoring the restriction could leave you responsible for towing, recovery, and damage costs, with no insurance coverage. The most suitable private vehicle would be a properly equipped four-wheel drive whose insurance and conditions of use specifically allow beach driving. If you are looking for a van or campervan for your road trip, I often recommend this comparison site, although rental restrictions must still be checked carefully.

Another option is to join a guided coach tour departing from Kaitaia or the Bay of Islands, particularly Paihia. These excursions usually combine Ninety Mile Beach with other Far North attractions and often include commentary about the area’s landscapes and Māori traditions.

It may sound like a minor detail, but the road from Kaitaia to Cape Reinga is genuinely beautiful and forms an important part of the experience. There is only one sealed main road leading to the cape, State Highway 1, but the landscapes make the journey worthwhile.

We arrived in the late afternoon, when the soft light was perfect for photography. At several points, the road offers beautiful views of the sea and vast green landscapes dotted with cattle and sheep. The area feels remote and peaceful, far removed from New Zealand’s busiest tourist destinations.

The lighthouse is naturally one of the main reasons people travel to Cape Reinga. Completed in 1941, it stands above the turbulent waters where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet.

The lighthouse is easy to reach from the parking area via a gently descending paved path. The walk takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes each way and is suitable for children. I walked down carrying my baby and also saw visitors using strollers, although the return journey is uphill.

Interpretive panels near the cape explain the meeting of the two bodies of water and the Māori traditions associated with Te Rerenga Wairua. The open view across the horizon is beautiful, and it is easy to spend several minutes simply watching the sea.

Access to the lighthouse area is free, but visitors cannot enter or climb the lighthouse. Cape Reinga is an important sacred site, and DOC asks visitors not to eat there. Drinking water is acceptable, while Tapotupotu is a more appropriate place for a picnic.

Who would expect to find such an enormous dune landscape in the far north of New Zealand? It is certainly not the Sahara, but as you travel toward Cape Reinga, you will see a sign for the Te Paki Sand Dunes.

Access to the dunes is free via a turnoff from the main road to Cape Reinga. Along with Ninety Mile Beach, they are one of the Far North’s most popular attractions. The dune system is impressive, stretching across a vast area, with some dunes reaching approximately 150 m in height.

You can often rent a sandboard near the parking area and slide down the dunes. It is an enjoyable activity, but DOC warns that sandboarding carries risks, so choose a safe slope, inspect the landing area, and follow any local instructions. Be prepared to get plenty of sand everywhere.

You can also climb the dunes simply to enjoy the scenery. The highest accessible viewpoints offer wide views over the surrounding landscape and toward the Tasman Sea.

The final activity I strongly recommend is hiking around the cape. Several trails begin near the lighthouse parking area, while others can be accessed from Tapotupotu Bay, the beautiful bay where we camped for two nights.

From Tapotupotu, trails lead along the coast toward nearby coves and viewpoints. The wider Te Paki Coastal Track extends for approximately 48 km and normally takes four to five days in full, although shorter sections can be explored as day walks. Whichever route you choose, check the current track conditions and allow enough time for the steep coastal terrain.

Naturally, the best route depends on where you are traveling from.

If you are looking for affordable flights from the United States or Canada, I discuss some useful options in my article about the cost of traveling to New Zealand, along with an overview of expenses within the country.

For more details, you can use this website to compare flights from the United States to New Zealand. Canadian travelers can compare available fares through this website.

We personally traveled from Auckland. When driving north, there are three main possibilities:

• The first is to follow State Highway 1, the main road, directly toward Cape Reinga. It is the shortest and simplest route, although not necessarily the most interesting. The journey from Auckland covers approximately 420 km and usually requires at least five and a half hours of driving without extended stops. In practice, allow a full day.

• The second option, which we chose, is to travel through Dargaville on the west coast and visit the remarkable kauri forests, particularly Waipoua Forest. This route makes it easy to divide the journey over two days. We stayed at Trounson Kauri Park, south of Waipoua Forest. The first section from Auckland takes approximately three hours, depending on traffic and stops.

• Another way to break up the journey is to stop in the Bay of Islands on the east coast. The drive from Auckland to the Bay of Islands generally takes around three hours, although traffic can make it longer.

It is a good idea to refuel and buy food in Kaitaia, the last major town before the Far North. There are a few smaller fuel and food options farther north, including around Pukenui and Houhora, but opening hours and availability are more limited.

I rented our car through this comparison website, which brings together offers from several rental companies.

There are several places to stay around Cape Reinga. Many travelers recommended Tapotupotu Campground to us, and we eventually spent two nights there. The turnoff is located a few kilometers before Cape Reinga, followed by a steep gravel access road. Looking for more information about camping in New Zealand?

Do not expect luxury. Tapotupotu is a wilderness campground with minimal facilities, including toilets, cold showers, and a water supply that must be treated or boiled before drinking. As of 2026, the fee is NZ$18 per adult and NZ$9 per child aged 5 to 17, while children under five stay free. Advance booking is required, the campground is cashless, and the DOC Campsite Pass is not accepted. It can fill quickly during the busiest season, so booking early is strongly recommended.

Have you ever traveled to New Zealand or visited Cape Reinga? What did you think of the area?

I hope this article about Cape Reinga has inspired you to make the journey north. Despite the long drive there and back, I found it well worth the effort. If you would like to read more visitor reviews, you can also take a look at Tripadvisor.

See you soon.

Written by Sylvain PONS

Living in French Polynesia at the time, I explored New Zealand from 2017 to 2020 during two road trips of two months each. As a family, we camped and discovered the beauty of these two islands.

Despite our care, a mistake may have slipped into this article. If you find any, please don't hesitate to let us know so we can correct it as soon as possible and keep our information up-to-date!