5 Days in the Bay of Islands and the Far North: A Campervan Itinerary
Quick summary: Five days lets a campervan or motorhome trip reach the very top of New Zealand. This loop from Auckland spends two nights in the Bay of Islands, drives up to Cape Reinga for a night beside the sea, crosses the Hokianga Harbour on the car ferry, and returns south through Waipoua Forest past Tāne Mahuta. It’s around 950 km, a full trip with some long days, and it shows off the east coast, the far north and the wild west coast.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Length | 5 days, 4 nights |
| Total driving | Around 950 km |
| Start and finish | Auckland |
| Overnight stops | Paihia (2 nights), Cape Reinga area, the Hokianga |
| Longest day | Around 265 km, Ōpononi to Auckland via Dargaville |
| Highlights | Hole in the Rock, Cape Reinga, the Te Paki dunes, the Hokianga ferry, Tāne Mahuta |
| Best for | Travellers who want the highlights of Northland in under a week |
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Day 1: Auckland to Paihia (around 230 km)
Collect your vehicle, buy supplies in Auckland, and drive north on State Highway 1. Stop at Whangārei Falls and Kawakawa on the way, and settle into a Paihia holiday park for two nights. See Auckland to Whangārei and Whangārei to Paihia.
Day 2: The Bay of Islands
Leave the vehicle parked. Cruise out to the Hole in the Rock in the morning, then take the passenger ferry to Russell or visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the afternoon. See Hole in the Rock cruises, Waitangi tours and our guide to Waitangi by campervan.
Day 3: Paihia to Cape Reinga (around 210 km)
Head north through Kerikeri, then along State Highway 10 around Doubtless Bay, with a coffee stop at the old fishing village of Mangōnui. Stock up on fuel, food and water in Kaitāia, the last big town, then drive up the Aupōuri Peninsula. Stop at the Te Paki dunes to sandboard, walk down to the lighthouse at Cape Reinga, and spend the night at the DOC campsite at Taputaputa Bay. See Paihia to Doubtless Bay and Kaitāia to Cape Reinga.
Day 4: Cape Reinga to the Hokianga (around 200 km)
Return to the cape early, when it’s quiet, then drive back south past Kaitāia. Take the back roads to Kohukohu and cross the Hokianga Harbour on the car ferry to Rawene, then continue to Ōpononi or Omapere for the night, with the North Head dunes glowing across the water. See the Hokianga.
Day 5: The Hokianga to Auckland (around 265 km)
It’s a long last day, so start early. Drive through Waipoua Forest to Tāne Mahuta, the largest living kauri, then continue to Dargaville and back to Auckland by State Highway 12 and State Highway 1, with a stop at the kauri museum at Matakohe if time allows. See the Kauri Coast and Kaipara and the west coast south.
Is five days rushed for an RV loop to Cape Reinga?
It’s busy rather than rushed. The days to the cape and home from the Hokianga involve several hours of driving on winding roads, and there’s only one full day without driving. If that feels like too much, there are two easier versions:
- Keep the vehicle in Paihia. Spend four nights in the Bay of Islands and take a Cape Reinga coach tour for the top of the country, which also drives Ninety Mile Beach, something rental vehicles can’t do.
- Add two days and follow the 7-day Twin Coast loop.
Where should you stay?
- Paihia: holiday parks near the wharf. See our Paihia campervan base guide.
- Cape Reinga area: the DOC campsite at Taputaputa Bay, or Rarawa Beach further south, both with minimal facilities.
- The Hokianga: holiday parks and campgrounds at Ōpononi and Omapere.
- Self-contained freedom camping is limited throughout Northland and only for certified self-contained vehicles where councils permit it. See our Northland freedom camping guide.
What should you plan ahead for?
- Supplies: fill up in Kaitāia before Cape Reinga; there’s little further north.
- The Hokianga ferry: check the crossing times, as it runs to a timetable.
- Ninety Mile Beach: commonly excluded from rental agreements. See our guide to unsealed roads and Ninety Mile Beach.
- The return: your last day is long, so allow time to refuel and empty tanks before the depot. See returning to Auckland.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A loop via the Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga, the Hokianga and Waipoua Forest is around 950 km and fits into five days with some long driving days.
Around 210 km via Kerikeri, Doubtless Bay and Kaitāia, about 3 hours of driving without stops.
The Department of Conservation campsite at Taputaputa Bay is a few minutes from the cape, and Rarawa Beach has another DOC campsite further south.
Yes. Base yourself in Paihia and take a Cape Reinga coach tour, which also drives Ninety Mile Beach and stops at the Te Paki dunes.
No. This loop goes north on the east coast and returns down the west coast via the Hokianga car ferry and Waipoua Forest.