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Where it's at
The region described as the Northland reaches from
just north of Auckland, up to the far tip, known as Cape
Reinga. The biggest town in the area is Whangarei,
and a string of beautiful beaches run northwards from its
northern suburb of Ngunguru. Just up the coast is Tutukaka
and from here you can easily take trips out to the world famous
Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve.
Divers' paradise
The Poor Knights Islands are a divers' paradise,
and one of Jacques Cousteau's top ten dive sites. There
are over 50 dive spots around the islands, which boast very
deep, clear waters, with many underwater arches, caves and
tunnels, full of surprisingly colourful sea life. The combination
of a rich supply of nutrients in the water and a sub tropical
current attract large numbers of different species, particularly
on the walls of the tunnels and caves. Some of the many treats
to be seen here are the large fish such as gropers, moray
eels and large stingrays. There are also a couple
of wrecks off this coast, deliberately sunk here to
create an artificial reef, and adding to the sense of the
place as a diver's playground. However, all visitors must
remember that this area is a marine reserve, and therefore
nothing must be left behind or taken away from the seabed
or reefs.
Beach life
For those who prefer to keep their holidays above water, there
is always the amazing Ahipara, the Maori name for 90-mile
beach (actually 90km, the mistake was a result of a misunderstanding
between the French and English). This unusual beach is on
the western side of Aupouri Peninsula, and is considered
by many to be New Zealand's most impressive beach. It also
has something to offer everyone - the large, dramatic waves
make it a great place to surf, and it is one of the
cleanest places on earth, with sparkling clear waters, and
ideal for all water sports. It offers some truly spectacular
sunsets, and a natural theme park in the form of dunes to
be explored, you can even gather shellfish at low tide,
and barbeque them on the beach.
When to Go
The whole area has a subtropical climate, with wonderful balmy
evenings in summer, making November to early April the most
popular time to come, though the winter is still mild. February
is probably the best time to visit 90 Mile Beach, both for
the weather and the Annual Snapper Fishing Contest,
when the whole place comes to life. Also in February, wild
beach parties are held in Waipapakauri, making it the
ideal place to come for a good time.
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