Ripiro Beach is New Zealand's longest driveable beach, stretching 107 km along the Northland coast - longer than the famous 90 Mile Beach - and runs roughly between Aranga and Baylys Beach. Backed by golden sand dunes, it has a rich history of shipwrecks, including ancient Portuguese vessels and a French man-of-war. There's a hill climb up to the lighthouse at the Pouto end, and a maze of inland tracks through the dunes worth exploring, with some great hidden camp spots if you follow the track that runs behind the beach.

As a gazetted highway, standard road rules apply. You can drive its hard sands two hours either side of low tide; 4WD vehicles are strongly recommended. Check tides before heading out and ask locals about conditions. Soft spots can appear, especially just after high tide, so keep your momentum and eyes peeled. Quicksand may be present near the tip and in some dune areas. Travel with recovery gear, maintain suitable tyre pressures, and ideally have a second vehicle for support.