10 things you can do in 20 minutes, #ItsNorthlandTime
Enjoy a Northland journey at your own pace, with plenty of activities encouraging you to embrace the moment, turn on your out of office and lose track of time, Northland Style. Here’s 10 ideas for things you can do in just 20 minutes - an abundance of choice awaits you in Taitokerau Northland.
1. Hike to the top of Tokatoka Peak near Dargaville. It’s only 20 minutes to get to the top of this awesome landmark and once up there, you’ll have 360-degree views over the Kaipara district. On clear days you might even see as far as Bream Head on the east coast. Take care though, because the top section of this hike gets particularly steep.
2. Visit the Afforested Rooftop of the Hundertwasser Art Centre building. With a new ticket available just for the afforested rooftop, even those short on time can experience the view from the golden cuppola and wander among the approximately 4000 plants on the roof.
3. Doing the short Otehei Bay Loop Track on Urupukapuka Island. If you’re already out on Urupukapuka Island then an extra 20 minutes will get you around the shorter section of the Otehei Bay Loop Track. You can expect some stunning panoramic views from up here too.
4. Enjoying a coffee in the Whangārei Town Basin. The Whangārei Town Basin has loads to offer but an extra 20 minutes spent sipping coffee from a waterfront cafe like The Quay or Aqua Restaurant is always a good idea.
5. Watch the sun set from Ahipara. Anywhere along the west coast, especially those places with long sandy beaches and open ocean views, is a good place to watch the sunset but Ahipara is one of our favourites especially since it’s such a great base to stay when exploring the far north.
6. Drive up to Te Maika Flagstaff Hill in Russell for 360 degree views of the Bay of Islands. Not only is this a great scenic spot, there’s also some interesting history here, and if you keep your eyes open, you might even see a weka, a curious flightless bird that thrives in the area.
7. Do a Hole in the Rock scenic helicopter flight with Salt Air. In just 20 minutes you’ll experience breathtaking views of the Bay of Islands as you fly out to Motukōkako Piercy Island, home of the legendary Hole in the Rock, and back to Paihia.
8. Take the passenger ferry from Paihia to Russell. The ferry takes approximately 15 minutes to cross between Paihia and Russell, departing from the wharf in the centre of both townships. It’s a great way to get between the two towns for an afternoon stroll or a dinner reservation while also getting great views of the mainland from the water.
9. Visit Tāne Mahuta in the Waipoua Forest. It’s just a short five minute walk from the carpark down the boardwalk to end up in front of Tāne Mahuta, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest living kauri tree. You might find you want to stay longer than 20 minutes though as ambassadors share stories about this magnificent tree, the forest and the surrounding ecosystem regularly throughout the day.
10. Enjoy an ice cream on the beach. This classic kiwi tradition shouldn’t be forgotten and with 20 minutes you can find yourself with a goody-goody gum drops or a classic cookies and cream in hand, toes in the sand and stress just melting away.