When You Think You've Seen It All

If you’re starting to scratch your head wondering how you are going to keep the kids entertained next school holidays, then read on for 5 family-friendly activities that you might not have heard of!

1. You’ve been to Rainbow Falls, Whangārei Falls is a regular stop on the weekends, and you could walk through AH Reed Memorial Park with your eyes closed. Why not venture a little out of town to the Taheke Waterfall Track? Walking through regenerating Kauri forest, this easy two-hour loop has a branch off to a viewing platform of the Taheke Falls, the highest waterfall in Taitokerau Northland
   
   
2. If you’ve ticked off the glow-worms at Waipu Caves, hiked up the peak at Tokatoka and played among the rockpools at Cable Bay, then why not head to Wairere Boulders. These giant and ancient boulders are an incredible natural playground and kids will love the hunt for the fairy houses around the trails.
   
   
3. The whole family has been to Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the kids know how book binding worked in the “olden days” thanks to the guided tour at Pompallier Mission and Printery, and you’ve been to the Stone Store so many times you know all the ducks and geese by name. Why not check out the other Tohu Whenua sites in Taitokerau Northland? Māngungu Mission on the Hokianga Harbour was where one of the largest signings of the Treaty of Waitangi occurred and Rangihoua Heritage Park on the edge of the Bay of Islands was the site of Aotearoa New Zealand’s first planned European settlement.
   
   
4. You know that Tāne Mahuta is the biggest kauri tree in the country, and you’ve been to visit him and his neighbour Te Matua Ngahere at Waipoua Forest. You’ve also seen the giant fig tree at Pahi, and oldest pear tree in the country at Kororipo Heritage Park. But have you been to the largest Pohutukawa in the country at Butler Point in Mangonui?
   
   
5. If you’ve already ticked everything above off the list and you’re still wondering what else there is to do in Taitokerau Northland, then turn the school holidays into a big treasure hunt with the Northland Journeys. Each map has a selection of local favourites, must stops, best scenic viewpoints and more. Let the kids pick and choose the places they want to visit on the map then hit the road!