The Far North Hiking Safari

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New Zealand Walking Holiday - 6 Day Auckland to Auckland

Highlights: The Far North is our shortest and easiest Safari, the ideal North Island New Zealand Walking Holiday. It includes plenty of swimming and snorkelling in secret coves of turquoise water, and lots of great day hikes. It is also a bit warmer in the 'winterless North'.

Highlights include the remote forested coastal walk on Day 2 near the Bay of Islands, open-coast kayaking at Whangaroa, two nights of isolation at the very tip of New Zealand, the Te Paki sand dunes, and driving along 90 mile beach.

"Perfect mix of time to rest, swim, relax & play with enough hiking and exertion to feel satisfied." Stephen, UK

Thank you for a really excellent introduction to New Zealand. The Far North is not to be missed. Andrew, UK

Thank you, guys for helping me see there is more to life. There is a whole world out there and I intend to see it and live it. Nicola, UK

Please let the world know more about you. This is one of my best holidays ever. Johan, Norway

A fantastic, well organised trip - I'd certainly recommend people try for themselves. Excellent value for money too! Samantha, UK

Itinerary

Day 1 Tuesday Join trip in Auckland - 1km/1 hour hiking

Depart Auckland and follow the east coast northwards. Quick stop to supplement supplies for the next 5 days before following crazy coastal back roads to Elliott's Bay.

We set up camp just above the beach, at a private campsite. If the weather is wet we can stay in a classic rustic kiwi bach (New Zealand holiday house) instead. Red-tinged pohutukawa trees (New Zealand Christmas trees) cover hidden coves and swimming beaches here. Explore this lovely coastline or swim. If the sea conditions are calm there is excellent snorkelling here.

NOTE: We stop at a cafe at 9:00am if you need to grab some breakfast. Useful things to have in your daypack are: headlamp/torch (small cave to explore at lunch time), a pair of shorts, sandals, swimsuit, camera, wallet.

Day 2 Wednesday Bay of Islands - 9km/6 hours hiking

Tumble out of sleeping bags and leap into the sea. Refreshed, break camp and walk northwards. Climb up through regenerating native bush to the ridge tops and look down on hidden sandy coves and rocky headlands. Catching your breath, gaze out across the bright blue Pacific Ocean.

We pass huge steel pots amid the ruins of the old whaling station. These stations are a sad reminder of the many humpback and southern right whales there were once hunted here. Many of New Zealand's first European settlers came for the sealing and whaling rather than our beautiful natural environment!

Lunch at a cute cove of turquoise water, with secret beaches and funky palm trees. Descend from Pukehuia - at 345m, it is the highest hill and best viewpoint in the Bay of Islands. The track ends at a perfect bush-fringed bay of lapping water and moored yachts. Wash away the sweat from our exertion in the clear water.

It is a short drive to the historic township of Russell, from where you can take the ferry across to Paihia while your guide drives around to meet you. Stop briefly in Paihia, the main tourist centre of the Bay of Islands, before driving north to our campsite at Tauranga Bay and its welcome hot showers.

Day 3 Thursday Whangaroa Kayaking - 10km/5 hours kayaking

Highly recommended guided kayaking (optional extra). Using a mix of single and double sea kayaks we launch off a private beach and kayak along this uncluttered coastline, past red volcanic headlands, island outcrops, and sandy beaches. After passing through sea caves we reach the sheltered waters of Whangaroa Harbour with its mangrove forests.

Lunch on a beautiful beach before returning. Stop to share watery stories over fish and chips at the famous Mangonui Fish Shop.

Those not kayaking have free time at the Tauranga beach campsite until early afternoon. Ask your guide about other options. Later, we head to the twin coves campsite of Matai Bay.

Day 4 Friday 90 Mile Beach, Cape Reinga - 2km/2 hours hiking

More swimming and snorkelling, then off again. This time, we take a fascinating drive up the endless hard-packed sands of 90 mile beach to Te Paki's massive looming sand dunes, where we jump out and impress each other with out of control fat-air-antics on our sandboards.

We continue onwards, setting up camp at a beautiful sandy cove. Later we have the option of a cliff-top walk or a drive to the edge of the world at Cape Reinga, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea. Watch the sun setting in the western sky from this (almost) northernmost tip of New Zealand.

Day 5 Saturday Cape Maria Van Diemen, Kauri forests - 4-12km/2-4 hours hiking

Set off to explore a less visited part of the cape's coastline. Cross Te Paki Station to the surreal iron-stained sand dunes of Cape Maria Van Diemen.

Climbing high, we get grand views of this incredible piece of New Zealand landscape. Wander along an expansive stretch of empty beach before returning for lunch.

In the afternoon, we leave the Far North and begin the journey southwards, passing through Kaitaia, across the Hokianga on a car ferry, and on to the Waipoua Forest. There, New Zealand's biggest kauri tree Tane Mahuta, makes us feel humble as we curl up in our tents. Often, we'll hear the screeching call of the endangered North Island Brown Kiwi, whose numbers are sadly dwindling each year.

Day 6 Sunday Kauri forests - 2km/1 hour hiking

This morning we walk the Trounson Kauri Reserve to bask in the shadows of these huge trees. An intensively managed mainland conservation ‘island', surrounded by a sea of farmland, Trounson is one of the healthiest forests in the country and provides refuge for many threatened species. This reserve is also home to a well nurtured and protected (from predators) population of kiwi.

We arrive in Auckland at approximately 3:00pm.

Notes

As this trip is subject to tide times and sea or storm conditions, activities may unfold in a different order than stated above. Some 4WD routes we use can become impassable.

Your vehicle has snorkelling gear, boogie/sandboards, and a barbecue.

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