If you’re traveling through Northland without a car or want to kick back and let someone else drive for a day, a trip to Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) with Fullers Bay of Islands is a must.

The tour departs from Paihia at 7 am or Kerikeri at 7:50 am and runs for around 11 hours. Some of the best parts of the day include cruising along Ninety Mile Beach (which is actually a legal road—I've included a photo of us driving on it!) in their comfy, purpose-built coach and sandboarding down the epic Te Paki Sand Dunes. Sandboarding is weather-dependent and only available for children over 8, but you don’t need to bring your own boogie board as you can rent one when you arrive.

Once you reach Te Rerenga Wairua, the northernmost tip of the country, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Cape Reinga Lighthouse and the rugged coastline. What makes this spot extra special is that it’s where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. The result is a dramatic yet oldly peaceful collision and one of the few places in the world where this happens.

For Māori, Cape Reinga is the most spiritually significant place in New Zealand. Known as Te Rerenga Wairua, or the “place of leaping,” it is believed to be where the spirits of the deceased begin their final journey to their ancestral homeland, Hawaiki. Because of its sacred nature, eating is not permitted at Cape Reinga.

But you won’t go hungry! Around midday, you'll get to sit down to a freshly prepared café lunch before beginning the journey back to Paihia.

You can find more information about the significance of Te Rerenga Wairua in my notes for that location.

How much does it cost?

Tickets for adults are $175 per person and children (5-15) are $87.50 (under 5s go free). It might seem like a lot, but keep in mind that this is an 11-hour experience that includes transport, lunch, sandboarding, and a tour guide who will teach you about the area. That works out to just $15 per hour and I think that’s pretty good value for an unforgettable memory.