Northland

Looking for things to do in Northland means looking at the very top of New Zealand. Northland is the long, narrow region that sits above Auckland. The road keeps going here until the land runs out at Cape Reinga. Two oceans meet at the tip, the Pacific and the Tasman. It is warm, green and quieter than the country's busier trails.

The Bay of Islands sits at the heart of the region. It is a scatter of islands, sheltered coves and old harbour towns. Russell was once the country's first capital. Waitangi is where New Zealand's founding treaty was signed. History and coastline sit close together up here.

We have gathered our guides so the best things to do in Northland are easy to find. Start with the best things to do in the Bay of Islands. Read the full Northland travel guide for the wider region. Walk the Mangawhai cliffs loop for one of the finest coastal views. Each guide is built from time actually spent there.

There is more to Northland than the Bay of Islands alone. West-coast beaches, kauri forest and sandboarding dunes all sit within a short drive. These things to do in Northland suit slow, unhurried trips. Use this page as your starting point. When you want official trip planning, the Tourism New Zealand Northland page is a good place to begin.