Cape Reinga

Overview

Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua, 'the leaping place of spirits') sits at the very top of New Zealand, where the currents of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet in a visible line of churning water. In Māori tradition, it's the point where spirits depart the world, leaping from the headland and descending the roots of an ancient pōhutukawa tree into the underworld.

A short walk from the car park leads to the lighthouse at the tip of the headland, with views along the coastline in both directions. The drive up is as much a part of the experience as the destination, passing through Ninety Mile Beach and the Aupouri Peninsula's forests and farmland.

Things To Do

• Cape Reinga Lighthouse walk — an easy 20-minute return walk from the car park to the automated lighthouse.
• Watch the meeting of the seas — the churn where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean currents collide, visible from the headland.
• Te Werahi Beach walk — a longer coastal track from Cape Reinga for those wanting more time outdoors.
• Ninety Mile Beach — drive or take a coach tour along the beach on the way to or from the Cape.
• Tāpotupotu Bay — a sheltered beach and campsite a short drive back from the Cape, good for a picnic.

Getting There

Cape Reinga is about 1.5–2 hours' drive north of Kaitaia, the last major town before the peninsula. The final stretch of road is unsealed in places. Several operators run full-day coach tours from Kaitaia, Paihia and the Bay of Islands.

Gallery

Nearby Attractions

Ninety Mile Beach

A vast stretch of west-coast sand, popular for driving tours and dune sandboarding.

Waitangi Treaty Grounds

The site where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed in 1840, a scenic drive south.

Tāpotupotu Bay

A sheltered beach and campsite a short drive back from the Cape.

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