Quick Navigation
Essential Info
- Māori Name: Te Rerenga Wairua
- Location: Far North, Northland
- Drive from Kerikeri: ~3.5 hours
- Entry: Free
- Best visit: Full day trip
- Combine with: 90 Mile Beach
Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua) is the spiritual tip of New Zealand and one of the country's most iconic destinations. Standing at the lighthouse, you can see where the deep blue of the Tasman Sea collides with the green waters of the Pacific Ocean in a visible line of turbulent surf — a sight unlike anything else in New Zealand. From Kerigold Chalets in Kerikeri, Cape Reinga is approximately 3.5 hours' drive, making it a long but rewarding full-day trip through the dramatic Far North landscape.
About Cape Reinga
Cape Reinga sits at the tip of the Aupouri Peninsula — a narrow finger of land stretching north between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. While it is often described as "the northernmost point of New Zealand," the true northernmost point is actually Surville Cliffs to the northeast. However, Cape Reinga is far more accessible and holds far greater spiritual and cultural significance.
The cape is managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) as part of the Te Paki Recreation Reserve. Facilities include a car park, toilets, information panels, and the short walk down to the lighthouse.
The Meeting of Two Seas
The most dramatic sight at Cape Reinga is the visible line where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet. The different water colours, temperatures, and current directions create a perpetual turbulence at the cape — a churning line of white water stretching out to sea. On a clear day, the Three Kings Islands (Te Motu-o-kura) are visible on the horizon, approximately 57km to the northwest.
Māori Significance
Cape Reinga is one of the most sacred sites in New Zealand for Māori. In tradition, the spirits (wairua) of the dead travel north along Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē (90 Mile Beach) to Cape Reinga. At the cape, they descend to the sea via the roots of an ancient pōhutukawa tree (believed to be over 800 years old) that clings to the cliff face below the lighthouse. From there, spirits dive beneath the waves and travel to the Māori ancestral homeland of Hawaiki.
Out of deep respect for this sacred site, visitors are asked to refrain from eating or drinking at the cape itself. The pōhutukawa tree on the cliff face below should not be touched or disturbed.
What to See at Cape Reinga
Cape Reinga Lighthouse
The distinctive white Cape Reinga Lighthouse was built in 1941 and stands 165 metres above sea level. While it is no longer staffed, the lighthouse remains an operational navigation aid. The short walk from the car park to the lighthouse (approximately 800m return) passes through coastal scrub with sweeping views over both the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean.
Te Paki Sand Dunes
On the way to Cape Reinga, the Te Paki Stream sand dunes near Ninety Mile Beach offer one of Northland's most unusual experiences — sandboarding down massive coastal dunes into the stream below. Boogie boards and sand toboggans can be hired at the roadside. It's great fun for all ages.
Spirits Bay (Kapowairua)
Spirits Bay is a beautiful, remote beach about 30 minutes' drive from Cape Reinga. It is the last resting place of spirits before they depart from the cape, and is one of the most isolated and pristine beaches in New Zealand. There is a DOC campsite here for those who want to stay overnight.
Getting There from Kerikeri
Self-Drive Route (Recommended)
- Distance: Approximately 230km from Kerikeri
- Drive time: Approximately 3.5 hours each way
- Route: SH1 north through Kaitaia, then SH1 north to Cape Reinga
- Road: Fully sealed all the way to the lighthouse car park
- Fuel: Fill up in Kaitaia or Awanui — no fuel stations beyond this point
- Do NOT drive on 90 Mile Beach without a 4WD and local knowledge — vehicle rescues are common
Guided Tours
Several operators offer guided day trips to Cape Reinga from Kerikeri, Paihia and Kaitaia. Tours typically travel via 90 Mile Beach (bus only — not suitable for private vehicles), include stops at the Te Paki sand dunes, and return via the sealed road. This is the most popular and comfortable option for visitors.
Day Trip Tips from Kerikeri
Making the Most of a Long Day
- Leave Kerikeri by 7:30am to arrive at Cape Reinga by mid-morning
- Bring your own lunch and plenty of water — there are no shops at the cape
- Wear layers — it can be cold and windy at the cape even in summer
- Allow 1–1.5 hours at Cape Reinga itself
- Stop at the Te Paki sand dunes on the way — allow 45 minutes
- Visit Kaitaia for lunch on the way back
- Check Tourism New Zealand for current conditions
- Photography is best in the morning before midday haze develops
Nearby Attractions
- 90 Mile Beach (Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē) — the famous beach running south from Cape Reinga
- Te Paki Sand Dunes — sandboarding at Te Paki Stream
- Spirits Bay (Kapowairua) — remote beach 30 min from the cape
- Rainbow Warrior, Matauri Bay — on the way back south
- Doubtless Bay — beaches and seafood, 1 hour south of Cape Reinga
- Kaitaia Accommodation
- Northland's Top 10 Must-Dos
- Kerikeri Airport — fly into the Far North instead of driving from Auckland
Where to Stay for a Cape Reinga Day Trip
Stay at Kerigold Chalets in Kerikeri for the perfect base for a Cape Reinga day trip. Our self-contained chalets allow you to pack your own food, leave early, and return at your leisure:
- Central Northland location, just 3.5 hours from Cape Reinga
- Full kitchen facilities — pack your own picnic lunch
- Quiet, private chalets for a good night's rest before the big drive
- Local knowledge about the best route and stops on the way