Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bay of Islands & Northland
09
Why Go?
For many New Zealanders, the phrase 'up north' conjures up sepia-toned images of family
fun in the sun, pohutukawa in bloom and dolphins frolicking in pretty bays. From school
playgrounds to work cafeterias, owning a bach (holiday house) 'up north' is a passport to
popularity.
Beaches are the main drawcard and they're here in profusion. Visitors from more
crowded countries are flummoxed to wander onto beaches without a scrap of development
or another human being in sight. The west coast shelters the most spectacular remnants of
the ancient kauri forests that once blanketed the top of the country; the remaining giant
trees are an awe-inspiring sight and one of the nation's treasures.
It's not just natural attractions that are on offer: history hangs heavily here. The site of
the earliest settlements of both Maori and Europeans, Northland is unquestionably the
birthplace of the nation.
When to Go
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Northland's beaches go crazy at New Year and remain busy throughout the January
school holidays, with the long, lazy days of summer usually continuing into February and
March.
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The 'winterless north' boasts a subtropical climate, most noticeable from Kerikeri up-
wards, which averages seven rainy days per month in summer but 16 in winter.
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In winter the average highs hover around 16°C and the average lows around 7°C.
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Temperatures are often a degree or two warmer than Auckland, especially on the east
coast.
Best Places to Eat
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à Deco (
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)
