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Whatever your age, whatever your fitness level, Northland will have you up and walking.

Looking for a leisurely half hour walk, or are you more of a ‘Bear Grylls’ type? No problem, because Northland has half hour to 3-day options among the 100+ walks, tracks, and loops scattered throughout this gorgeous part of New Zealand.

With our sub-tropical climate which offers mild winters and summers which are not too hot, this region is ideal for those wanting to enjoy the “Great Outdoors”.

Many of our customers who fly from all parts of New Zealand to Kerikeri Airport want information about Northland first hand to maximise their time here so we’ve culled the list down to six of the best. Our range of vehicles suit solo or large walking groups, and with multiple drop off and pick up points available, we make your time in the North even better.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) do a fantastic job of maintaining and servicing most tracks available, making them safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Opua Forest, Paihia
If you only have an hour or two to spare, or simply looking for a walk which isn’t too strenuous, the Opua Forest Paihia Lookout ticks all the boxes.

A scenic well-maintained track through the lush bush with ample birdlife rewards walkers with a fantastic view of Paihia township and out over the magnificent Bay of Islands. It is worth noting that this forest was much larger in the past before much of the Kauri was felled for house building and ship repairs.

Length 1.5km | Time: 1 hour

Haruru Falls, Bay of Islands
Haruru, meaning ‘rumble’ in Māori and this is certainly the perfect description as you approach the Falls. Locals suggest making Waitangi Treaty Grounds your start point and walking back to from Haruru to Paihia along the recently upgraded footpath.

Length 6km | Time: 2.5 hours one way

Kerikeri River Track to Rainbow Falls
Like the walk above, this is another track which leaves from a popular attraction you are likely to visit anyway. This track leaves from Kerikeri’s Stone Store to the Kerikeri River and onto the Rainbow Falls. It has long been a popular swimming hole surrounded by native bush and birds, so pack a picnic and make a day of it!

You may hear tui call and see fantails flitting about while you walk.

Puriri, totara, karaka, and manuka shelter the path to the viewing platforms.

Visit the historic weir that supplied the first electrical power to the early Kerikeri township. Remnants of the Kerikeri hydro-electric station and weir are still visible and an information panel is situated at the rest area.

For those with small children or need wheelchair access, we suggest the shorter walk from the Rainbow Falls carpark which accommodates buggies and chairs.

Length from Stone Store: 3.5km one way | Time 1.5 hours one way

Length from carpark: 400 metres one way | Time: 10 minutes one way

Cape Brett Walkway, Rawhiti
For serious trampers, the Cape Brett Walkway is demanding but rewarding. Tracking through native bush and long stretching cliffs you walk ends at the lighthouse on the cape. The lighthouse is now a DOC hut, so walkers have the option to either stay overnight and walk back the next day or organise for a boat to take you back at the end of the day. Whatever you choose, you’ll be ready for a well-earned rest.

Length: 20 km | Time: 8 hours one way

Wairere, Hokianga Harbour
For photo enthusiasts the Wairere Boulders walk is for you. Unique, beautiful, and looking like a scene from Lord of the Rings, this is the only valley in the world to see eroded basalt boulders.

The site is approximately 15 kilometres from State Highway one, the last three kilometres are along a well maintained gravel road.

Stretching 1.5 km on easy walking tracks, visitors see literally thousands of boulders stacked together reaching up to 30 metres high in some cases.

Length: 1.5 km | Time: 0.5-2 hours (lots of viewing platforms to stop and take photos)

Guided Puketi Rainforest Night Walk, Bay of Islands
Peaceful and interesting, walkers learn all about New Zealand’s native birds and the majestic Kauri tree. With a Certificate of Excellence from Tripadvisor in 2016, this is a novel way to experience the bush at night.

The tourism industry in New Zealand is booming with the export of services reaching new record highs.

According to data published by Statistics New Zealand total tourism spend in 2018 amounted to $39.6 billion or some 10.2% of GDP. Cruise Ship activity continues to grow with some 150,000 passengers visiting the Bay of Islands in the 2018/19 season.

According to Figure.nz the value of exports of services from New Zealand means the travel sector leaves all other industries for dust. There is also a strong commitment from the new government to tourism by naming Kelvin Davis (born and bred in the Bay of Islands) the new Tourism minister, he is third in the cabinet.

As an English speaking country with outstanding food, wine and scenery and many tourists getting a lot of ‘bang for their buck’, it’s no wonder New Zealand is experiencing such growth. Tourism New Zealand states approximately 80 million people actively thinking about a New Zealand holiday each year with the majority coming from Australia, China and The United States.

Air New Zealand wins ‘Best Airline’ awards over and over, Auckland continuously ranking high as one of the top cities to live in, Grammy-winning singers and a thriving film industry. Coverage like this all go towards making New Zealand a pretty hip place in the eyes of the world.

Though the housing market seems to have cooled of late, Northland is experiencing a substantial upturn in house prices, in the past 12 months in particular. Whether these are bought as a second home to rent out, or city-dwellers moving into the area permanently is currently unknown.

Tauranga is booming as well. How do we know? Well, Uber has moved into town and that’s a sure way of knowing your growth is on ‘the up’. The Bay of Plenty’s reliable warm weather, glorious beaches, and thriving cafe and restaurant culture offers a well-balanced lifestyle.

We feel a large part of New Zealand’s tourism success stems from locals being a friendly bunch who offer a thrilling experience and genuine customer service. Our history shows we are open to change and like to ‘get amongst it’. Bungy jumping, skiing, cycling, and a watersport or two. Nice one New Zealand.

If you are looking for a reliable car for your stay in New Zealand, see our fleet of rental vehicles and check out our Facebook reviews for instant peace of mind.

We’ve found another great reason to visit Northland and its nothing to do with sunny days, beautiful beaches, exquisite wine, excellent golf or amazing scenery. Nope. We are in fact referring to chocolate.

If you are serious about your chocolate then it’s time to head North and INDULGE! We’re not sure why, but chocolate is a big thing North of Auckland with around five noteworthy chocolatiers between Kaukapakapa and Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands. That’s some serious chocolate eating people which equate to a chocolate factory nearly every 42 kilometres travelled!

All along we thought it was the relaxed lifestyle and warmer weather that made Northland folk so happy, but it might just be the feel-good chemicals in chocolate that’s to blame. With over 300 naturally-occurring chemicals, chocolate has phenylethylamine (sometimes referred to as the “love drug”), and serotonin (a natural mood lifter). These cause alertness, excitement, a quickening of the pulse and happiness, all very similar to the effects experienced with ‘new love’. So, if you or someone you know adores good chocolate these two chemicals will have a lot to do with that obsession.

A weekend with girlfriends in the beautiful Bay of Islands where you can sight see, browse the markets, chill out on a beach, eat, drink and be merry sounds like a marvellous idea doesn’t it? Rent one of our vans or people movers from Auckland, Whangarei or Kerikeri and enjoy a few quality days together.

Now down to business with a list for chocolate lovers from Warkworth, heading North.

Chocolate Brown – Warkworth

Award-Winning Chocolates where you can even watch their chocolatiers at work. Chocolate Brown also make their own fudge, licorice, and New Zealand favourites, rocky road and hokey pokey.

Swiss Bliss – Waitoki (Kaukapakapa)

Swiss Bliss has a tiny shop where the chocolates are made but you can also buy online or see them regularly at the Matakana Village Farmers Market. They are proud to use all organic or certified organic ingredients in their products.

Bennetts of Mangawhai – Mangawhai

Locally grown ingredients with the help of local staff and suppliers help make up the award winning Bennetts Chocolate brand.

Makana Confectionary – Kerikeri

Makana offers gift-quality confections including a sugar-free range. Made from top ingredients, these taste sensations do not have artificial flavourings, colourings or preservatives.

Newport – Russell

Each chocolate piece is made by hand using all natural ingredients. Newport also has hampers and cigars which you can order online.

This resurgence of chocolatiers proves there is a strong demand for quality cocoa-based products in New Zealand. Quality ingredients not full of sugar and artificial flavourings, and a real pride shows through in this handmade craft.

See our Hot Deals for specials on vehicle when renting for 3+ days.

So often when people choose a quieter way of life, be it moving into retirement or moving to a rural town, they worry that their new change of pace won’t be exciting enough. However, more times than not they find new friends and experiences and are left wondering how they ever had time to work!

Whether you are planning to move North or wondering how to spend a much-deserved break with family and friends over Autumn, there is always some wonderful art, theatre, food and music events to get wrapped up in.

Our vans and people movers are a brilliant way to experience a fun and memorable road trip with friends while sharing the driving and fuel costs at the same time. Better still, you can take advantage of winter rates even before winter! From May onwards our car and van rentals are significantly reduced until December 17th. Email us today for a rate card.

There is some great drama hitting Whangarei this May, with these two in particular. Roger Hall’s comedy, Four Flat Whites in Italy‘ returns from a sell-out season last year to Whangarei 23 May. And ‘Gloria’s Handbag‘ (29 May) which enjoyed great reviews from the Dominion Post and Threatreview when the play first featured in Wellington.

Northland has its fair share of tribute bands from April until the end of June with Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones Experience, John Denver and Queen all celebrating the music of these genres.

If Jazz or country are more to your taste, The Topp Twins are performing in Kerikeri, Paihia, Whangarei, Dargaville and Kaitaia in late April with Sunday Jazz at the Whangarei golf club on 7th May. A great day on the course followed by dinner and entertainment at the club to round off an enjoyable day. Hire a Far North Rentals 12 seater van and ‘shout’ the designated driver dinner for the evening!

Perhaps watching people exercise sounds easier than actually doing it? The Northland Aerobics Championships are held in Whangarei this year with clubs, coaches, athletes and supporters from around New Zealand competing for the title.

Markets are always very popular in Northland, which is just as well since there are so many of them! Book fairs, community markets, food, and craft markets are to be found in Paihia, Kerikeri, Mangonui, Whangarei on a regular basis offering excellent food, locally grown produce, good strong coffee and locally made soaps and other gifts.

Between Auckland and Northland, there is a fantastic road trip for art enthusiasts to experience. Grab some friends and would-be artists and discover any one of the 20+ galleries starting in Matakana travelling to the far north of Doubtless Bay.

Artists love the relaxed, nature-focused surroundings found in Northland and this results in lots of beautiful pieces on offer. Ceramics, paintings, sculptures, prints and multi-media works of art can be found in most galleries.

We offer 24/7 AA roadside assistance with all of our vehicles, easy drop-off and pick-up locations (you can find us at Kerikeri Airport!), unlimited kilometres in Northland, and discounts start from 2+ days of car hire, making it even easier to enjoy our region.