Doubtless Bay
Northland and the Bay of Islands
In New Zealand's far north you will find something that you may not have expected.
This is a region with a fantastic sub-tropical climate - a paradise of golden sandy beaches and secluded coves lapped by clear, warm waters. In this Mediterranean climate, olives and lemons grow freely, rich vineyards produce award winning wines and the ocean provides plentiful and varied seafood. Northland is heaven for the food and drink lover.
Maitai Bay, Karikari Peninsula - Northland
On the Pacific coastline is the Bay of Islands, aptly named with 144 beach fringed islands breaking the surface of sparkling seas that are rich with life. Dolphins, whales and seabirds abound and beneath the surface the scuba diving is world class - the Poor Knights Islands has been classed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world.
To the west, running alongside the Tasman Sea, is the Kauri Coast whose lush forests are home to the oldest and mightiest trees in New Zealand. The largest kauri is Tane Mahuta, Lord of the Forest, whose diameter is 4.4 meters. Te Matua Ngahere, Father of the Forest, is New Zealand's oldest tree and is estimated to be more than 2,000 years old.
The far north is wild, dramatic and rich in folklore and mythology. Cape Reinga is at the very tip of the North Island and is known to the Maori as Te Rerenga Wairua, the leaping-place of the spirits. It is to here that the spirits of the dead travel on their journey to the homeland, Hawaiki.
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