90 Mile Beach and Cape Reinga (New Zealand Part 12)

We wanted to explore the Aupori Peninsula with a guided bus tour because our rented motorhome was not allowed to drive on the beach.
We arrived in Kaitaia in the evening and unfortunately the tours of the company we had initially chosen were fully booked. It seems that in peak season you shouldn't inquire the day before...
The lady at the tourist information office wanted to leave early. But we caught her while she was closing and she gave us two other flyers. We were able to find accommodation with the competition and even stay overnight in the parking lot with our motorhome, so that we were already on site in the morning for departure.

Our first stop was the store "Unearthed Kauri", where artworks and everyday objects made from deceased kauri trees are sold and exhibited. These trees grow so large that a spiral staircase can be built inside the trunk, which leads to the first floor.

Then we drove to the 90 Mile Beach, which can be used as a road for four-wheel drive vehicles. Although the beach is not exactly 90 miles long, its length and width are still impressive.

We drove along the beach with the bus and saw the sea on the left and sand dunes on the right. We made a photo stop overlooking a hole in the rock in the sea.

We were also able to take a closer look at and even climb the sand dunes.

We had to do that at the next stop as well. After a ride through the Te Paki River, which had little water at low tide, we stopped for sandboarding.

Since the dunes were located directly at the riverbank, some people ended up in the water after a sandy slide. Although the water was very low, they still ended up wet and sandy.

We then had lunch as a picnic in a picturesque bay. For the perfect overall picture, a sailing boat was even anchored in front of it.

Finally, we stopped at Cape Reinga, where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet.

At this northern end of the North Island stands a lighthouse, which is a popular photo motif for the crowds of tourists who are here.

This area plays an important role in Maori legends: The souls of the deceased reach Hawaiki, their original homeland, via the Ninety Mile Beach from Cape Reinga.