Cape Reigna & Waipu Forest

Our journey to the northernmost point of New Zealand takes us along beautiful coastlines. The road winds its way along the sea, with occasional inland stretches that offer views of the vast green land – with hardly any other cars in sight. On both sides of our path, we encounter vast pastures with cows and sheep, and occasionally a family of turkeys walking along the roadside. We even come across a small wild pig happily wandering on the road. In the afternoon, we reach Ninety Mile Beach, a 50 km long sandy beach where we can zoom back and forth with the right vehicle. The last stretch feels very long, but the amazing views make up for it. It's pure nature, with sometimes small farms but hardly any houses. Finally, we arrive at Cape Reinga and walk to a small hill next to the famous lighthouse. From here, we have a beautiful view of the cliffs and can witness the Tasman Sea meeting the Pacific Ocean. On the way back, we make a stop at the Giant Te Paki Sand Dunes – huge sand dunes that we can climb and slide down on a board.

The next day, we make our way back all the way. We stop at the Waipu Forest, where the country's largest kauri trees can be found. A small road winds through the forest, which feels almost like a jungle. Truly beautiful. By now, we are driving with the motto 'The journey is the destination'!