04 Pukenui to Kaitaia via Cape Reinga
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Nick Carthew - (MRA Master)
Last edit: 12-01-2023
Route Summary There are a few gravel roads but like the others on this tour, they are easy to ride.
I have awarded this route the full 5***** stars as the scenery, attractions and roads are all sublime.
Share this route 
Animation
Verdict
Duration
7h 14m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
196.24 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review From the start point at Pukenui, the cape is about 1½ hours ride through pleasant countryside on the Far North Road. If you plan to ride the full length of the beach on your return, top up with fuel at Waitiki Landing, 49 kms from the start. The cape is already a favourite tourist attraction, with over 120,000 visitors a year and around 1,300 cars arriving per day during peak season. For this reason I suggest an early start from Pukenui.
Cape Reinga offers the ultimate northern New Zealand experience. See two oceans collide and discover the 'Place of Leaping', where Māori spirits begin their final journey.
At the Cape, the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean in a spectacular swirl of currents. Watch the division line of Tasman Sea’s turquoise waters clashing with the Pacific Ocean’s darker blue waves. On a clear day, the Three Kings islands and Cape Maria Van Diemen can also be seen.
At the northernmost tip of the Cape is a gnarled Pohutukawa tree, believed to be over 800 years old. According to Māori oral history, the spirits of deceased Māori leap from this tree into the ocean to return to their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki. The 'Reinga' part of the name is the Māori language word meaning the underworld.
The Lighthouse at Cape Reinga was built in 1941 and first lit during May of that year. Today it is fully automated and stands 165 m above sea level.
While it’s not quite the most northern point of New Zealand (North Cape 30 kms east is further north, but it’s a scientific reserve and not open to the public), Cape Reinga is definitely the end of the road and the end of your journey north.
Head back south on the Far North Rd and after 15 kms you can turn right to visit the Giant Te Paki Sand Dunes. A short 3 km gravel road takes you to the carpark on the edge of the dunes. Here you can hire a sand board for NZ $15. Have cash for this because electronic payments will require a hike to the top of a dune to get a signal for the card machine.
The Te Paki Stream will give the more adventurous access to the beach. You can only use the stream at low water and caution is required as there are some deep spots.
If you make it to the beach (Ninety Mile Beach) you can choose to ride on the beach all the way to RP 14 some 67 kms away. Make sure that you have enough fuel and that you have enough time with the tide. The next fuel stop in this direction is 80 kms away. I would also add that riding for 67 kms on a sandy beach can be very tiring, you will have the opportunity to ride a shorter 17 km section of Ninety Mile Beach further on, on this route.
Back to the Far North Rd and at RP 6 you can ride an 8 km gravel road to Parengarenga Harbour where you can view the white silica sand dunes of the Kokota sandspit across the Te Kao Channel. The sand is so pure and white the dunes look like snow covered hills. The Parengarenga area holds the region's largest silica sand resource by far and the sands high silica content makes it ideal for glass making.
At RP 8 you can take a shorter gravel road of 3.6 kms to visit the pure white sands at Rarawa Beach.
A short ride from here takes you back to Pukenui where I have suggested a lunch stop at Pukenui Pacific Restaurant & Bar.
After lunch you have the opportunity to ride the shorter 17 km section of Ninety Mile Beach by turning right at RP 11 and follow the gravel road to the beach. The same cautions as above are advised. The access road and beach are used by tour coaches making this section of beach less remote and therefore a little safer. If you don't want to ride the beach or the tide times are not favourable, go back to Far North Road and head for Kaitaia to pick the route up again at RP 16.
The end of the route is at Kaitaia where again I have include links below for different types of accommodation. Camping is a further 15 minutes away at Ahipara on the beach.
There is also a link to a youtube video by German traveller Pavlin in his Motorcycle Adventures channel showing Cape Reinga and riding Ninety Mile Beach.
Enjoy.
Links 
Usage Want to download this route?
You can download the route for free without MyRoute-app account. To do so, open the route and click 'save as'. Want to edit this route?
No problem, start by opening the route. Follow the tutorial and create your personal MyRoute-app account. After registration, your trial starts automatically. 
Disclaimer
Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes 
New Zealand
About this region
New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu)—and more than 700 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometres (103,500 sq mi). New Zealand is about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland.
Owing to their remoteness, the islands of New Zealand were the last large habitable lands to be settled by humans. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle in the islands and then developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire, and in 1907 it became a dominion; it gained full statutory independence in 1947, and the British monarch remained the head of state. Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 5 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealand's culture is mainly derived from Māori and early British settlers, with recent broadening arising from increased immigration. The official languages are Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, with English being a de facto official and dominant language.
A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, education, protection of civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom. New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. The service sector dominates the national economy, followed by the industrial sector, and agriculture; international tourism is a significant source of revenue. Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament, while executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the prime minister, currently Jacinda Ardern. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's monarch and is represented by the governor-general. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes. The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing states in free association with New Zealand); and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica.
New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Forum.
Read more on Wikipedia
Owing to their remoteness, the islands of New Zealand were the last large habitable lands to be settled by humans. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle in the islands and then developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire, and in 1907 it became a dominion; it gained full statutory independence in 1947, and the British monarch remained the head of state. Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 5 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealand's culture is mainly derived from Māori and early British settlers, with recent broadening arising from increased immigration. The official languages are Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, with English being a de facto official and dominant language.
A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, education, protection of civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom. New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. The service sector dominates the national economy, followed by the industrial sector, and agriculture; international tourism is a significant source of revenue. Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament, while executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the prime minister, currently Jacinda Ardern. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's monarch and is represented by the governor-general. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes. The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing states in free association with New Zealand); and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica.
New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Forum.
View region
Statistics 
30Amount of RX reviews (New Zealand)
15996Amount of visitors (New Zealand)
538Amount of downloads (New Zealand)
Route Collections in this region A complete tour of North Island New Zealand from Auckland
A superb tour of everything that the beautiful North Island of New Zealand has to offer. From the far north at Cape Reinga where two mighty ocean currents collide, then, situated at the southern end of the North Island is the capital city of Wellington, recently named "the coolest little capital in the world" by Lonely Planet. Experience everything in between, journey through landscapes of magnificent coasts and beaches, sprawling farmlands and geothermal wonders. The breathtakingly beautiful Bay of Islands or the majestic, symmetrical volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki, or sitting within the Pacific Rim of Fire, Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland with bubbling mud pools, clouds of steam, and natural hot springs perfect for bathing and relaxing in. North Island has it all.
Māori culture is rich and ever-present in many parts of the North Island as is the architecture of the early European settlers. I would allow 3 weeks to cover this tour as this will enable you to spend more than one night in some of the fantastic locations.
Note: At Gisborne you have a choice of two routes, the coastal route included in this collection 13a or a shorter, inland route that travels through the Waioeka Gorge Scenic Reserve 13b. Links for both routes are included in the route 12 review.
Enjoy.
Māori culture is rich and ever-present in many parts of the North Island as is the architecture of the early European settlers. I would allow 3 weeks to cover this tour as this will enable you to spend more than one night in some of the fantastic locations.
Note: At Gisborne you have a choice of two routes, the coastal route included in this collection 13a or a shorter, inland route that travels through the Waioeka Gorge Scenic Reserve 13b. Links for both routes are included in the route 12 review.
Enjoy.
View Route Collection
A complete and epic 9 route tour of South Island New Zealand
The picture above is of the Devil's Staircase running alongside Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand's longest lake at 80 km. It was difficult to find one picture to sum up South Island because of the many varied and stunningly beautiful landscapes that this tour travels through.
The beauty of the South Island is in the diversity of its scenery.
Southern Alps
The main feature of scenery in the South Island is mountains. The Southern Alps mountain range is the backbone of the island, stretching for roughly 500 kilometres from Wanaka to Arthur's Pass. The Alps have snowy tops all year round, feeding glaciers and crystal clear rivers.
The highest mountain in New Zealand, Aoraki/Mount Cook, this soars to 3,724 metres. Mount Cook is one of New Zealand's greatest natural features.
Route highlights:
01: Lewis Pass road.
02: Arthur's Pass.
03: Mount Cook.
04: Lindis Pass.
05: Southern Scenic Route and Bluff.
06: Devil's Staircase.
07: Haast Pass.
08: Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
09: Buller Gorge.
Eight of these routes are 5 ***** star routes and the ninth is a 4**** star. There is so much to see on this tour it is guaranteed to make unforgettable memories.
You might want to allow for a few extra nights, I would suggest 2 nights in:
Christchurch.
Bluff or Invercargill.
Queenstown.
Fox Glacier.
And maybe a night in Motueka.
Enjoy.
The beauty of the South Island is in the diversity of its scenery.
Southern Alps
The main feature of scenery in the South Island is mountains. The Southern Alps mountain range is the backbone of the island, stretching for roughly 500 kilometres from Wanaka to Arthur's Pass. The Alps have snowy tops all year round, feeding glaciers and crystal clear rivers.
The highest mountain in New Zealand, Aoraki/Mount Cook, this soars to 3,724 metres. Mount Cook is one of New Zealand's greatest natural features.
Route highlights:
01: Lewis Pass road.
02: Arthur's Pass.
03: Mount Cook.
04: Lindis Pass.
05: Southern Scenic Route and Bluff.
06: Devil's Staircase.
07: Haast Pass.
08: Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
09: Buller Gorge.
Eight of these routes are 5 ***** star routes and the ninth is a 4**** star. There is so much to see on this tour it is guaranteed to make unforgettable memories.
You might want to allow for a few extra nights, I would suggest 2 nights in:
Christchurch.
Bluff or Invercargill.
Queenstown.
Fox Glacier.
And maybe a night in Motueka.
Enjoy.
View Route Collection