On the west coast of Northland's Aupouri Peninsula is 90 Mile Beach (which is actually 55 miles/88 kms long), popular for driving, biking, land-yachting, fishing, horse riding, surfing and sand surfing on the monster dunes. The regular access point is little Ahipara town which offers a range of low-end accommodation options from B & Bs to camping. Ahipara is at the south end of the beach and 14 kms west of Kaitaia.

Ninety Mile Beach access road from Hukatere, north of Ahipara.

90 Mile Beach, dune surfing.

But don't leave 90 Mile Beach too late or the tide will sink your wheels, a frequent occurrence for unwary tourists. Two hours either side of high tide is the most dangerous time.

Aaargh!

Spirits Bay.

At the north end of the Aupouri Peninsula, north of 90 Mile Beach and near Cape Reinga is Spirits Bay, so named because the Maori believe that the spirits of the dead take off from this region en route to the afterlife.

Cape Maria van Dieman, taken from Cape Reinga. Next, New Zealand Pictures.

Adjacent to Spirits Bay, Cape Reinga is the most northerly point of New Zealand.

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