Activities and attractions

Things to do

We are located on the Aupouri Peninsula, the most northerly part of New Zealand's North Island. The nearest village is Houhora, approx. 12 km away, where you find a restaurant, shop and liquor store. The closest major town is Kaitaia, 45 km south, with a supermarket, petrol station, and more.

We are located directly on the Te Araroa Trail - a walking and tramping pathway 3000 km long. It stretches all the way from Cape Reinga in the north to the Bluff in the south of the South Island.

For your holiday activities, we can make arrangements to be picked up on the beach for your bus trip to Cape Reinga, Ninety Mile Beach and other Far North attractions such as fishing, collecting shell fish, golf or water sports. We provide drop-offs and pick-ups for hikers. Contact us for further information.

Horse trekking

This is the ideal place with beautiful facilities to be on vacation with your own horse. We provide a well build horse corral and paddock. Many pony clubs stay with us throughout the year.

Walking

There are many excellent walks around Hukatere Lodge and also at Cape Reinga area. Walks can be long or short, easy or very difficult, and we can give you all the necessary information.

Some of the best known walks on the peninsula are (click red names for details):

• Local walks along the Te Araroa Trail along Ninety Mile Beach
• Local walks at Henderson Bay and Rarawa Beach.
• Cape Reinga Lighthouse from the car park (easy - 30 minutes return)
• Cape Reinga to Te Werahi Beach (moderate - two hours return)
• Twilight - Te Werahi Loop Track (advanced - 5 hours return)
• Te Paki Coastal Track (Kapowairua at Spirits Bay past Cape Reinga to Te Paki Stream - difficult - 6 individual sections - several days)

Here are just a few more of the things to do and see within a short distance of Hukatere Lodge. For more information, check out the Ahipara and Top of NZ websites.

Aupouri Peninsula, Ninety Mile Beach and Cape Reinga

The beautiful Aupouri Peninsula is a sub-tropical paradise in the Far North of New Zealand - stretching north from Ahipara and Kaitaia.

Steeped in pioneering history and maori legend, home of the giant swamp kauri and treasured kauri gum. Experience our unspoiled beaches to swim, snorkel and gather shellfish, take time out to enjoy some of the best fishing waters in the world.

One of the most facinating beaches for swimming and surfing is the close by Rarawa Beach with its white silica sand.

Hukatere is one of four accesses to Ninety Mile Beach, which is actually only 88km long but nonetheless breathtaking.

Take a trip to Cape Reinga, drive along Ninety Mile Beach, and visit Ancient Kauri Kingdom.

Ahikaa Adventures offer sand surfing at Te Paki giant sand dunes and kayaking and fishing the Parengarenga harbour.

Henderson Bay Rentals have kayaks, surf boards and quad bikes for hire.

Kaitaia and Ahipara

You can visit the Okahu Estate Vineyard and Winery, Houhora Big Game & Sport Fishing Club and go sport fishing, quad bike riding over the sand dunes, and golfing on a fine links course.

Eating out

At Houhora (12 km):
The Hub (ph: 09 4098 808)
Pukenui Pacific Bar and Cafe (ph: 09 409 8816)
Houhora Big Game & Sports Fishing Club (only Friday and Saturday evenings - ph: 09 409 7755)

At Awanui (40 km south):
Ancient Kauri Kingdom Cafe (day-time only - ph: 09 406 7172)
Big River Cafe (day-time only - ph: 09 406 7922)

At Kaitaia (45 km south)
Beachcomber Restaurant (ph: 09 408 2010)
Bushmans Hut Steakhouse (evenings only - ph: 09 408 4320)
Numerous day-time cafes