Heading back to one of my all time favourites, the Far North! 90 Mile Beach, awesome harbour ferries, cool things to see and endless gravel roads - it's pretty awesome!
A fairly smooth gravel road through forest and farmland - skips a bunch of seal which is always nice
Takahue Saddle Road crosses the Takahue Saddle in the Raetea Forest, once linking Takahue in the north with Broadwood in the south. Now a disused paper road, remnants like a hall and church at either end hint at its past.
The road begins as gravel on both ends, but if traveling from the south, it quickly narrows and deteriorates. You’ll encounter a water hole (with a solid base) before crossing the Reremapere Stream. A steep climb follows immediately after the stream, so maintaining momentum is crucial. Beyond this, expect slips, holes, and steep drops—traveling with a second vehicle is strongly recommended.
Starting from the north may be easier, but tackling the stream and water hole first from the south provides an early challenge.
Cruise down one of the longest continuous stretches of beach anywhere in the country taking in the views on both sides.
Hang around in the evening to watch the sun go down over the ocean.
Te Paki Stream is the northernmost entry/exit point to 90 Mile Beach and can be a bit of fun when there's some water around. The sand can be pretty soft in summer when there's been no rain.
Remember to bring your 'dune sliding device' and have a hoon on the way past.
Roughly halfway along Te Hapua Road, Spirits Bay Road heads off to the North and ends at the Spirits Bay DOC campsite. Spirits Bay is actually slightly North of Cape Reinga so this is the northern most public road and campsite in New Zealand.
Both Te Hapua and Spirits Bay roads are wide and well groomed gravel.
Spirits Bay DOC campsite: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/northland/places/te-paki-recreation-reserve/things-to-do/campsites/kapowairua-spirits-bay-campsite/
Camp with lush forests and sandy beaches in close range. Kapowairua is a place to relax, enjoy and explore the great outdoors.
Te Hapua Road, located just south of Te Paki Stream Road at the northern end of 90 Mile Beach, leads to the small settlement of Te Hapua. This quiet village is unique, with cows and horses freely grazing from section to section across the lawns.
Head down to the stunning Rarawa Beach - you can even drive on the beach here. Remember to watch out for people on the beach during busy times.
Access at high tide will be tricky depending on how far you want to go and watch out for the super soft section between the tide lines.