Visit Northland Region with Mighway

Cape Reinga Lighthouse

Perched at the spectacular northern tip of the North Island, the white-washed Cape Reinga lighthouse is reached by a gentle 1km stroll flanked by some of New Zealand's most spectacular beaches. To the southwest and fringed by dunes, Te Werahi Beach curves gently to touch Cape Maria van Diemen, while east from Cape Reinga, the gob smackingly beautiful Spirits Bay is known to local Maori as the final departure point for souls heading to the spiritual homeland. This is the northern most point of New Zealand so really is a most-stop location. You can see where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean and the area has a large role in Maori mythology. This really is a special place so do try to make it up here, it's worth the effort.

Tane Mahuta

This short walk leads you under cooling shade of the forest canopy to the majestic Tane Mahuta, New Zealand's largest living kauri tree. Not far into the walk, a sweeping corner of the track suddenly brings you face to face with the ‘Lord of the Forest’. When you catch your first breath-taking view of this magnificent tree, you'll feel compelled to pause for a while. You can almost feel Tane Mahuta’s strength and ancient presence, and its overwhelming size makes visitors look like dwarfs. There is a wooden fence and a seat to view the tree. To get a broader view of Tane Mahuta, you can move further along the track, which then leads to another viewing platform.

Koutu Boulders

If you feel a game of bowls with balls up to 3 metres in diameter is just what you need, take a walk on the beach between Koutu and Kauwhare points on the south shore of the Hokianga Harbour where you will find the Koutu Boulders, one of the Hokianga’s better kept secrets.

The boulders are excellent examples of concretions : hardened nodules that form within sedimentary rocks. They are composed of the same material as the surrounding rock and they form when a cementing mineral binds grains of sediment into a cohesive mass. It has been estimated that the largest of the boulders may have taken 5 million years to grow.

Claphams Clocks

Whangarei’s world-famous clock museum is home to over 1600 clocks and timepieces, making it the largest collection of clocks in the Southern Hemisphere.

From mind-boggling backwards clocks, to antique French dancing girl clocks, and even clocks that make the tea – there’s something to amuse every curious and carefree mind at Claphams Clock Museum.

Many Whangarei locals recall with fondness and a chuckle, the inventor, entertainer and practical joker who was Archibald Clapham – or Archie, as he was more commonly known. Archie’s personal collection of around 400 clocks once took up most of his family home. Yorkshire-born Archie, who moved to New Zealand in 1903, was well-known for happily opening his doors to those who wanted to come and see his collection.

In 1961, Archie sold his clocks to the local Council for a nominal sum, effectively gifting his amazing collection to the community he had adopted. The collection has grown to encompass many rare and notable exhibits, which you can now enjoy alongside Archie’s old favourites.