Cape Reinga & Ninety Mile Beach

Journey to the Top of New Zealand

The Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach day tour is one of those must-do Northland experiences. This 11-hour coach trip takes you to Te Rerenga Wairua, the northernmost point of New Zealand’s North Island, and back along Ninety Mile Beach (which is actually 55 miles, but who’s counting). It’s a long day, but the distance covered and the significance of the places you visit make it worthwhile.

Fullers Bay of Islands runs this tour year-round with purpose-built coaches designed for beach driving. The drivers double as tour guides, and based on customer reviews, they make or break the experience. Several testimonials specifically mention drivers who shared Māori stories, sang traditional songs, and provided engaging commentary about the area’s culture and history.

What You Get

The tour departs Paihia at 7am (Kerikeri at 7:50am) and runs for 11 hours, so you’re back around 6pm. The route covers over 485km, broken up with strategic stops to make the long day manageable.

You travel north through Northland, stopping for coffee at Doubtless Bay. The coach continues to Cape Reinga, where you have about an hour at the lighthouse. This is Te Rerenga Wairua in Māori, a spiritually significant place where it’s believed the spirits of the dead depart on their journey to the afterlife. The cape sits where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, and the views are genuinely impressive. On a clear day, you can see Cape Maria van Diemen to the west and the vast ocean stretching north.

After Cape Reinga, the tour includes a lunch stop (picnic lunch included in the price, choice of options available at booking). Then comes the highlight for many people: driving along Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe, Ninety Mile Beach. The coach drives directly on the sand, which is officially a highway. Beach driving is tide-dependent, so it’s not guaranteed, though it happens on most tours.

Weather and conditions permitting, there’s an opportunity to try sand-boarding on the dunes. You climb to the top of a sand dune and slide down on a board. Not suitable for children under 8, and obviously depends on conditions being right. The tour also includes a stop for ice cream on the way back.

Who Is It Good For?

This tour suits people comfortable with long coach journeys. Eleven hours is genuinely long, and a significant portion is driving. The coaches are comfortable and purpose-built, but you’re still sitting for extended periods. If you get restless on long drives or have mobility issues that make sitting difficult, this might be tough.

That said, customer reviews are consistently positive, with many people saying it was a highlight of their New Zealand trip. The key factor seems to be the driver/guide. The best ones provide cultural context, share stories, and keep passengers engaged throughout the day. The worst case is a driver who just drives without much commentary, though that seems rare based on reviews.

Families with children aged 8+ who want to try sand-boarding find it exciting. Younger children can get restless over 11 hours. International visitors unfamiliar with Māori culture appreciate the commentary and context about Te Rerenga Wairua’s spiritual significance.

People who just want to tick off “been to the top of New Zealand” will achieve that. People who want cultural and historical context alongside the geography will get more out of it if they have a good driver.

The Seasonal Schedule

The tour runs daily from September through May (peak season). From June to August (winter), it operates five days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Winter means fewer tourists and potentially rougher weather, but also lower prices and smaller groups.

Beach driving on Ninety Mile Beach is tide-dependent. High tides make it impossible or unsafe. The tour operators plan around tides, but occasionally conditions prevent beach access. Sand-boarding also depends on weather and conditions.

Practical Considerations

The 11-hour duration: This is the big one. You leave at 7am and return around 6pm. It’s your whole day. Multiple stops break it up (coffee, Cape Reinga, lunch, beach, ice cream), but you’re still on a coach for many hours. Be realistic about whether you and your group can handle this.

Picnic lunch included: You select your lunch option when booking. Reservations made after 3pm the day before travel get a vegetarian lunch by default, so book ahead if you have specific preferences.

No bicycles in peak season: November to March, the coaches can’t carry bicycles. Relevant if you’re cycling around Northland and hoping to bring your bike.

Departures from multiple locations: The tour picks up from Paihia, Kerikeri, and (by request) Coopers Beach, Taipa, Mangonui, and Awanui. Check pickup times when booking.

Combo packages: Fullers offers combo deals pairing Cape Reinga with their cruises (Hole in the Rock or Day in the Bay). If you’re doing multiple activities, the combo pricing saves money versus booking separately.

About this Activity

• Free cancellation – No penalty for changes or cancellations up to 24 hours before departure.
• Reserve now & pay later – Keep your travel plans flexible.
• Duration – 11 hours.
• Departure – Daily Sept-May. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun June-Aug. Departs Paihia 7:00am, Kerikeri 7:50am (other pickups available by request).
• Suitable for – All ages, though long duration may be challenging for young children. Sand-boarding requires ages 8+.
• Distance covered – Over 485km round trip.

What’s Included

• 11-hour guided coach tour to Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach
• Purpose-built coach suitable for beach driving
• Experienced driver providing commentary about Māori culture, history, and environment
• Coffee stop at Doubtless Bay
• 1 hour at Cape Reinga lighthouse (Te Rerenga Wairua)
• Views of Tasman Sea meeting Pacific Ocean
• Picnic lunch included (choice of options, select at booking)
• Drive along Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe, Ninety Mile Beach (tide and weather permitting)
• Sand-boarding opportunity on dunes (conditions permitting, ages 8+)
• Ice cream stop on return journey
• DOC-approved operator
• Family passes available, children under 5 travel free

Practical Information

Season: Year-round operation. Daily departures September to May. Five days per week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun) June to August. Winter has fewer tourists and potentially rougher weather.

Getting there: Pickups from Paihia (7:00am), Kerikeri (7:50am), and by request from Coopers Beach, Taipa, Mangonui, and Awanui. Confirm your pickup location and time when booking.

What to bring: Comfortable clothing for long coach journey, warm jacket (wind at Cape Reinga can be strong even in summer), hat, sunscreen, camera, water bottle, snacks if you want extras beyond provided lunch. Wear sturdy shoes if planning to sand-board.

Duration reality check: Eleven hours is genuinely long. You’re on a coach for significant portions of the day. The purpose-built coaches are comfortable and stops break up the journey, but be realistic about whether you enjoy long drives. Customer reviews suggest engaged commentary from drivers makes the time pass much faster.

Tide dependency: Driving on Ninety Mile Beach depends on tides. Low tide provides hard sand for driving. High tide makes it dangerous or impossible. The tour operators plan around tides, but occasionally conditions prevent beach access. If beach driving is essential to your experience, understand it’s not guaranteed.

Sand-boarding: Weather and sand conditions determine if sand-boarding happens. Not available on all tours. Minimum age 8 years. Requires climbing sand dunes, so reasonable fitness helpful. Many people mention this as a highlight, but don’t book solely for sand-boarding as conditions vary.

Lunch selection: Picnic lunch included, but you must select your preference at booking. Late bookings (after 3pm the day before) automatically get vegetarian lunch. If you have specific dietary requirements or preferences, book early.

Cape Reinga significance: Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) is sacred in Māori tradition. This is where spirits of the dead are believed to depart for the afterlife, descending at the base of the ancient pōhutukawa tree and returning to the spiritual homeland of Hawaiki. Show respect when visiting. The lighthouse is a more recent addition (1941) but has become iconic.

No bicycles in peak season: November through March, coaches cannot carry bicycles due to space constraints with full passenger loads. If you’re touring Northland by bike and want to do this trip, plan accordingly or arrange separate bike storage.

Weather variability: Northland weather can change quickly. Even if it’s warm in Paihia, Cape Reinga can be windy and cooler. Bring layers. Rain can affect sand-boarding and beach driving conditions.

Driver makes the difference: Reviews consistently mention that the driver/guide significantly impacts the experience. Good drivers provide cultural context, share Māori stories, sing traditional songs, and keep passengers engaged. This transforms a long coach trip into an educational and entertaining day. Fullers’ drivers generally get good reviews, but individual experiences vary.

Nearby combinations: Many visitors pair Cape Reinga with a Bay of Islands cruise on different days. Fullers offers combo packages at discounted rates. Popular combinations include Hole in the Rock + Cape Reinga or Day in the Bay + Cape Reinga.