Your Far North Base — Near Kaitaia & Cape Reinga

Kaitaia is the largest town in the Far North and the gateway to some of New Zealand's most iconic landscapes: Cape Reinga, Ninety Mile Beach, the Te Paki sand dunes, and the Aupouri Peninsula. If you're planning to explore the top of the North Island, Kerigold Chalets in Kerikeri offers a comfortable, well-appointed base just 1.5 hours south of Kaitaia — with luxury private chalets and studios, a heated pool, and spa pool waiting for you at the end of each day.

Kerikeri is a well-serviced town with supermarkets, excellent restaurants, and cafés, plus attractions of its own — including the Stone Store, Rainbow Falls, and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds nearby. It's a far more comfortable base than Kaitaia itself, while keeping you within easy reach of all the Far North's highlights.

Getting to Kaitaia & the Far North from Kerigold:

  • Kaitaia: approximately 130km north — around 1.5 hours via SH10 to Waipapa then SH1 north
  • Route: Kerikeri → Waipapa → Mangonui → Awanui → Kaitaia
  • Cape Reinga: approximately 2.5 hours north of Kerigold (115km north of Kaitaia)
  • Ninety Mile Beach: approximately 2 hours via Kaitaia and Ahipara
  • Te Paki sand dunes: 2.5 hours north — sign-posted from the Cape Reinga road
  • Doubtless Bay / Mangonui: 1.5 hours north — picturesque harbour and famous fish & chips

Why Visit Kaitaia & the Far North?

Kaitaia may be a modest town, but it's the jumping-off point for New Zealand's most dramatic far-northern scenery. North of Kaitaia lies the Aupouri Peninsula — a narrow strip of land tapering to Cape Reinga, where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet in a spectacle of colliding swells. The famous Ninety Mile Beach runs along the peninsula's west coast, and the Te Paki sand dunes offer some of the best sandboarding in New Zealand.

Cape Reinga — Te Rerenga Wairua in Māori — is one of New Zealand's most spiritually significant places. According to Māori tradition, the spirits of the dead leap from the ancient pōhutukawa tree at the cape's tip to begin their journey to Hawaiki. The lighthouse at Cape Reinga and the views over the meeting of the two great oceans are unforgettable.

Far North Highlights — Day Trips from Your Kerikeri Base:

  • Cape Reinga lighthouse: the meeting of the Tasman Sea & Pacific — ~2.5 hours north
  • Ninety Mile Beach: walk, drive, or surf one of NZ's most legendary beaches
  • Te Paki sand dunes: sandboarding and spectacular coastal views near Cape Reinga
  • Ahipara: surf beach at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach — ~2 hours north
  • Doubtless Bay: Coopers Beach, Cable Bay, and the Mangonui waterfront — ~1.5 hours
  • Mangonui fish & chips: legendary takeaways from the historic wharf at Mangonui Harbour
  • Kaitaia: Far North Museum, Te Ahu Heritage Centre, local markets — 1.5 hours north

Cape Reinga Day Trips from Kerigold

Cape Reinga is very doable as a full-day trip from Kerigold Chalets — allow 8–10 hours return. Many guests drive themselves, stopping at Doubtless Bay, Ninety Mile Beach, and the Te Paki dunes along the way. Alternatively, coach tours depart daily from Paihia (just 30 minutes from Kerigold) — a popular option that includes the famous beach drive and a guide to the region's Māori history.

Staying in Kerikeri vs Kaitaia

Kaitaia has motel accommodation and a small number of holiday parks, but the range of dining, attractions, and facilities is limited. Many Far North visitors find Kerikeri a more enjoyable base — well-placed for day trips north, while returning each evening to a well-resourced town and a luxury property. Kerikeri also gives you easy access to Paihia, Waitangi, the Bay of Islands, and Matauri Bay.