Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
10m high in stormy weather. Little tufts of cloud often cling to the ridges, giving sudden
spooky chills even on hot days.
Visible on a promontory slightly to the east is a spiritually significant 800-year-old po-
hutukawa tree; souls are believed to slide down its roots. Out of respect to the most sac-
red site in Maoridom, don't go near the tree and refrain from eating or drinking anywhere
in the area.
Cape Reinga Coastal Walkway
TRAMPING
Contrary to expectation, Cape Reinga isn't actually the northernmost point of the coun-
try; that honour belongs to
Surville Cliffs
further to the east. A walk along
Te Werahi
Beach
to
Cape Maria van Diemen
(a five-hour loop) takes you to the westernmost point
of the north island. This is one of many sections of the three- to four-day, 53km Cape
Reinga Coastal Walkway (from Kapowairua to Te Paki Stream) that can be tackled indi-
vidually. Beautiful
Tapotupotu Bay
is a two-hour walk east of Cape Reinga, via
Sandy
Bay
and the cliffs. From Tapotupotu Bay it's an eight-hour walk to
Spirits Bay
, one of
NZ's most beautiful beaches. Both bays are also accessible by road.
Te Paki Recreation Reserve
NATURE RESERVE
A large chunk of the land around Cape Reinga is part of the Te Paki Recreation Reserve
managed by DOC. It's public land with free access; leave the gates as you found them
and don't disturb the animals. There are 7 sq km of giant sand dunes on either side of the
mouth of Te Paki Stream. Clamber up to take flying leaps off the dunes or to toboggan
down them. During summer, Ahikaa Adventures (
Click here
)
are on hand to rent sand-
boards ($15).
Great Exhibition Bay
BEACH
On the east coast, Great Exhibition Bay has dazzling snow-white silica dunes. There's no
public road access, but some tours pay a
koha
(donation) to cross Maori farmland or ap-
proach the sand by kayak from Parengarenga Harbour.
Nga-Tapuwae-o-te-Mangai
TEMPLE
(6576 Far North Rd)
With its two domed towers (Arepa and Omeka, alpha and omega) and
the Ratana emblem of the star and crescent moon, you could be forgiven for mistaking
this temple for a mosque. Ratana is a Maori Christian sect with more than 50,000 adher-
ents, formed in 1925 by Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, who was known as 'the mouthpiece
of God'. The temple is built on land where Ratana once stood, and the name translates as
'the sacred steps of the mouthpiece'. You'll pass it at Te Kao, 46km south of Cape
Reinga.
