10 Days of Complete Northland: A Relaxed Campervan Itinerary

Quick summary: Ten days is enough to see the whole of Northland by campervan or motorhome without rushing. This loop from Auckland adds the Tutukaka Coast, three nights around the Bay of Islands and a night on the white sands of the Karikari Peninsula to the classic Twin Coast route, then heads to Cape Reinga and down the west coast through the Hokianga and the kauri forests. It’s around 1,150 km, and most days involve under 2 hours of driving.

At a glance
Length	10 days, 9 nights
Total driving	Around 1,150 km
Start and finish	Auckland
Overnight stops	Whangārei, Tutukaka Coast, Bay of Islands (3 nights), Karikari Peninsula, Cape Reinga area, the Hokianga, Kauri Coast
Typical day	30–200 km
Highlights	The Poor Knights Islands, the Bay of Islands, Maitai Bay, Cape Reinga, the Hokianga, Tāne Mahuta, the Kai Iwi Lakes
Best for	Slow travellers, families, beach lovers and divers

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Day 1: Auckland to Whangārei (around 160 km)

Pick up the vehicle, stock up, and drive north on State Highway 1. Stop for a swim at Waipū Cove or Mangawhai Heads, then stay around Whangārei. See Auckland to Whangārei.

Day 2: The Tutukaka Coast (around 30 km)

Head out to the coast via Ngunguru to Tutukaka. Take a dive or snorkel trip to the Poor Knights Islands, one of the world’s great dive sites, or swim and snorkel at Matapouri and the Whale Bay walk. Stay on the coast. See the Tutukaka Coast and snorkeling tours.

Day 3: Tutukaka to Paihia (around 90 km)

Follow the quiet coastal road north through Matapouri and Sandy Bay, then cut inland to State Highway 1, stopping at Kawakawa on the way to Paihia. Stay three nights in the Bay of Islands. See Whangārei to Paihia.

Day 4: On the water in the Bay of Islands

Take a cruise to the Hole in the Rock, a sailing day among the islands, or a tall ship or catamaran trip, then cross to Russell in the evening. See tours from your campervan.

Day 5: Waitangi, Russell and around the bay (around 30 km)

Spend the morning at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, then take the vehicle ferry from Ōpua to Okiato and explore Russell and its beaches, such as Long Beach, by road. Return to Paihia for the night. See Waitangi by campervan and the Russell car ferry guide.

Day 6: Paihia to Doubtless Bay via Kerikeri (around 85 km)

Visit the Stone Store and Rainbow Falls in Kerikeri, then follow the coast north to Mangōnui. Continue out to the Karikari Peninsula for the night. See Kerikeri and Paihia to Doubtless Bay.

Day 7: The Karikari Peninsula

Wake up at Maitai Bay and spend the day swimming, snorkelling and exploring Rangiputa and Tokerau Beach. Stay a second night, or move on in the afternoon toward Kaitāia. See the Karikari Peninsula.

Day 8: Karikari to Cape Reinga (around 180 km)

Stock up in Kaitāia and drive up the Aupōuri Peninsula to the Te Paki dunes and Cape Reinga, staying at Taputaputa Bay or Rarawa Beach. See Kaitāia to Cape Reinga.

Day 9: Cape Reinga to the Hokianga and Waipoua (around 220 km)

Drive south to Kohukohu, take the car ferry to Rawene, and continue past Ōpononi into Waipoua Forest to visit Tāne Mahuta in the evening light. Stay at a forest campground, or on a guided night walk to listen for kiwi. See the Hokianga and kauri forest tours.

Day 10: The Kauri Coast to Auckland (around 250 km)

Stop at the Kai Iwi Lakes for a morning swim, then drive via Dargaville and the kauri museum at Matakohe back to Auckland. See the Kauri Coast and Kaipara and the west coast south.

Is a 10-day Northland trip good for an RV first-timer?

Yes, it’s one of the best. The short driving days give you time to get used to the vehicle on main roads before the quieter, winding roads of the far north and west coast, and the three nights in the Bay of Islands give you plenty of time off the road. With so few long days, it also suits travelling with children.

What can you change?

• Add a night at the Kai Iwi Lakes to make the final day shorter.
• Swap Karikari for more time in the Bay of Islands if you’d prefer tours to beaches.
• Shorten to a week with the 7-day Twin Coast loop.
• Continue south after returning to Auckland; see adding Northland to a longer trip.

Where should you stay?

This trip uses a mix of holiday parks, DOC campsites and regional campgrounds, with a holiday park in Paihia. Self-contained freedom camping is limited across Northland and only for certified self-contained vehicles where councils permit it. See our Northland campsites guide.

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