Road trip through the Far North of New Zealand

This beach was beautiful, well and truly off the international tourist track although I imagine it is bustling with locals in summer holidays and weekends given its proximity to Auckland. Unfortunately there was a cyclone when we were there making the sky’s and atmosphere rather moody. Although it was still warm enough for a swim. We were able to explore the estuary and had the pleasure of a very empty campground. Conservation efforts happening in the dunes, please respect the pathways and birds nest of exploring the estuary. Lovely little campsite, we stayed in our own van so cannot comment on the cabins, but campsite was just off the beach with adequate facilities and a family vibe to it

Despite the moody weather caused by the cyclone, Pakiri Beach was a stunningly beautiful location that felt secluded from the rest of the world. Although it was not peak season, we could imagine how the place would be packed with locals during summer holidays and weekends, given its proximity to Auckland. Fortunately, we were still able to take a swim and explore the estuary, which was a great experience. We were pleased to find the campground almost empty, and enjoyed our stay in our own van, although the cabins seemed to be good options too. We appreciated the conservation efforts happening in the dunes and made sure to respect the pathways and bird nests in the area. Overall, the campsite had a family-friendly atmosphere and provided adequate facilities, while being located just off the beach. We would definitely recommend Pakiri Beach as a destination for those seeking a peaceful and picturesque getaway

The Bay of Islands NZ is one of the best spots in the country and very important to the founding of the country. We went diving on one day. spent another day visiting the Waitangi  museum and grounds, where the treaty of Waitangi and New Zealnd‘s founding document was signed. The next day we took the vehicle ferry across the bay to Russel a town with old colonial buildings and of historic importance as New Zealands first capital city.  After lunch of Fish and Chips we snorkelled and paddle boarded on the far peninsula. The weather was amazing and if you wanted you could also go sailing, fishing, hike or go on pleasure cruises. 

On our last day we went to Keri Keri town which is 20 minutes away and walked to a waterfall, then had lunch at the amazing Cafe Jerusalem before beginning our drive to our next spot.  

Fantastic campsite, don’t expect to be wowed by the facilities but the showers and toilets work. These  basic campsites in remote but beautiful areas are common in New Zealand and one of the wonderful thing about road tripping the country. The beach is swimmable although can be rough sometimes, would recommend staying near shore if you are not a confident swimmer. About 800 metres to the right of the campsite there is a nudist beach, there are no signs indicating  where this starts so best to keep your kit on till you see someone who knows what they are doing (some oldies surfing in the nude was a great indicator for us.

The campsite may not offer luxurious facilities, but it's a fantastic place to stay for those looking for a remote and stunning location. Basic campsites like this are common in New Zealand and add to the charm of road tripping. The swimmable beach can be rough at times, so it's recommended to stay close to the shore if you're not a confident swimmer. About 800 metres to the right, there's a nudist beach with no signs, so keep an eye out for others who know the area, like the oldies surfing in the nude that we saw.