On a shoestring
Life doesn’t have to be expensive to be enjoyed … it’s all about what you know about where to go. Kia Ora and welcome to Northland on a shoestring!
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Beautiful subtropical Northland, where the sun shines brightly, the grass grows greener and the water is warmer. Yes it does rain sometimes, but that’s what you get in a sub-tropical climate, and that rain helps our scrummy fruit and produce grow and allows you to enjoy some of the lushest scenery in the country.
Slap on your sunblock, slip on your thongs (we call them jandals in New Zealand!) and whatever the season, come on over and enjoy our beautiful landscapes, feel the warmth of some awesome Kiwi hospitality, devour our fresh homegrown kai (food), learn about our culture and explore our land.
Okay, so it does cool down a little bit in winter, and you might have to wear shoes sometimes, but Northland doesn’t do snow or sub-zero so you can still leave your floor-length winter coats behind.
Bush & beach
Life’s too short not to come to Northland, our first land, the Birthplace of A Nation. So, whether you come for five days or five weeks, there’s time enough to feel its magic as the spirit of the past comes forth to greet you.
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If you’re looking for peace and solitude – well, we have plenty of wide-open spaces, secluded beaches and pockets of native bush where you can zip off the highway and tune into nature. Or, if you’re feeling like a bit of company, join one of the many group activities on offer or immerse yourself in the uniqueness of our vibrant towns, maybe checking out some of our talented artists featured in A Northland Trail.
And yes, it is possible to do all this without it costing the earth. Travelling on a shoestring is all about thinking ahead - all the money you save on early bird flights, travel and accommodation can go towards having a blast in this natural wonderland.
Hidden secrets
So what are you waiting for? Book yourself a bus trip (check out InterCity’s Travelpass or Flexi-Pass) or hire a budget campervan, car, van, motorbike, scooter or even pushbike.
There are no trains in Northland, well, apart from a cool little steam locomotive called Gabriel in the tiny Northland town of Kawakawa, a convenient (pardon the pun) place to stop to check out the world-famous Hunderwasser toilets.
Follow the Twin Coast Discovery Highway and indulge in its unique scenery and iconic landmarks. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for signs on the side of the road pointing out our free “hidden secrets”, such as the stunning Abbey Caves in Northland’s largest town, Whangarei, where you will find stalagmites, stalactites and glow worms amid fascinating limestone formations.
Northlanders love water and are never more than 40 minutes from the sea. And did we mention the water’s warmer up here? We’re so spoilt for choice in this natural aquatic playground where you can swim, fish, snorkel, dive, kayak, surf, swim with the dolphins or just chill out under a pohutukawa tree on the beach with a good book.
Romance on the ocean
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If you’re a romantic, then the Bay of Island’s very own tall ship, the R Tucker Thompson, will have you cooing like a lovesick dove.
For something completely different, go all out with a 22-hour overnight cruise on The Rock - a converted car ferry with cabins upstairs and just about everything else downstairs - from a log fire, bar, piano, free pool table, lounge, dining area to a large fishing and kayaking ramp. With a whole host of activities such as fishing, night and day kayaking (check out the phosphorescence), snorkelling, island walks and all meals, accommodation and entertainment provided, this cruise is an all-in-one winner for anyone on a budget.
Fishers can also make a day of it and hook into a fishing charter. Book into a backpackers, campground or budget motel with kitchen facilities, catch your own dinner, then after a blissful day on the water, head back to the digs and cook your catch – yummo!
But wait, there’s more! Ride the waves at some of our amazing surfie beaches, or head underwater and experience pure marineland magic with one of New Zealand’s top dive operators, Dive! Tutukaka.
Go walkabout
And then there’s the walks … Yes, Northland is choc full of walking trails. Take a two-minute stroll to the Whangarei Falls, a guided night walk through the Waipoua Forest in the Hokianga with Footprints Waipoua, or an eight-hour trek across seven peaks, through native forest and along dramatic cliffs to a lighthouse overlooking the infamous Motukokako Island (Hole In The Rock) at Cape Brett - and not a snake or poisonous spider to be seen!
If time is of the essence and you want to see and experience as much as you can, then a day trip to New Zealand’s most northernmost point, Cape Reinga, is a must! Board a Fullers, Great Sights or Dune Rider bus, then sit back and enjoy the ride. And what a ride! - along the seemingly never-ending 90 Mile Beach, down aptly named Quick Sand stream, then split the breeze as your boogie board turns into a toboggan for the real ride of your life down Te Paki’s giant sand dunes.
Northland has an abundance of fabulous campsites to choose from, and our backpackers, hostels and budget accommodation ooze laidback and friendly. So make friends with your hosts and fellow travellers, as they’re the ones who can really tell you where to go to have a good time.
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