Bay Far North
AHIPARA
KaitĀia
ATAURI BAY M visitor centre, library, cinema, Te Ahu Home to the i-SITE
café, auditorium and the Museum @ Te Ahu, learn all about the Far North’s varied history at this modern and interactive space.
AHIPARA WHANGAROA
Gumdiggers Park
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Experience a day in the life of a gum digger at a former Kauri Gumfield. Beneath your feet lies a vast buried forest, complete with a partly exposed 100,000-year-old kauri tree.
The Kaitāia Walkway
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A full 90 minutes return. Weave through kauri groves and podocarp forest, tracing an old roadway and stream bridges. Once on the saddle, drink up the views of Diggers Valley.
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Beach HOUHORA
Bay
swathes of towering sand dunes are fun to climb and canter down. If you’re a speed demon with a boogie board, push off the edge and go like the wind.
The Tuatua Twist Ahipara is flush with shellfish. Master the ‘Tuatua Twist’ by paddling the shallows at low tide and twisting your feet until the tell-tale edges of tuatua tickle your toes.
Te Whare Whiri Toi Gallery
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Ahipara Beach Town It’s a salty
air,Ā sea-licked ia hair kind of place, Kait where sunsets go nicely with
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area’s prosperous gum-digging past alongside the final hurrah of once thriving ancient kauri forests.
Ahipara Sand Dunes Great
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Beach BTL ESS DOU
Ahipara Gumfields Historic Reserve Admire relics from the
A Club Running INGGolf RĒKaitāia parallel to the southern brinks
frosted beers and the surf offers some of the best left-hand breaks in the country.
RĒINGA PA AHI RA NINETY MILE
Beach
Take a look at traditional flax-woven art at this gallery, located inside Roma Marae. Open summer, Wednesday to Sunday; every now and then they run workshops, too.
Surf at Shipwreck Bay Drive
of Ninety Mile Beach, the club welcomes both members and Green Fee players.
seven minutes out of Ahipara for legendary left-hand breaks lauded by surfers across New Zealand. Surfboard hire is available in Ahipara.
Ōtaipango / Henderson Bay
Great Exhibition Bay Paradise
Travel 10 minutes north to the coast. This beach is a top spot for rock pools, snorkelling and sheltered swimming.
exists but with no beach access, a little effort is required to reach its snow-white sand. Hike from Rarawa Beach, quad bike, join a horse trek, book a 4WD tour or kayak from Parengarenga Harbour.
Animal Encounters Houhora Harbour is a popular breeding ground for stingrays and it’s not uncommon to see dolphins, orca, dotterel and albatross.
LEFT: Orca off New Zealand Coast © Getty Images BELOW: Rarawa Beach © David Kirkland TOP: Ahipara beach © Adobe Stock
HOUHORA Rarawa Beach Travel 15 minutes
Epic fishing charters Snapper
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north of Houhora for sugary soft white sand that squeaks between your toes. Just 4km off the main road for day trippers and next to a campsite for overnight dwellers.
Pukenui Pacific Houhora is officially called Pukenui Village and its namesake café and restaurant fronts the harbour. Sit on their veranda and watch the wharf’s daily goings-on.
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and kingfish are colossal in these your rod.
A Heads The INatGHouhora RĒSwim coldest winter day barely dips below 16°C so get your togs on.
Walks in Arethusa Reserve Just 10 minutes out of town, discover a shallow basin of water and wetland. A wide track grazes the perimeter and is teeming with bird life. PAGE 9 - REGIONAL MAP
