Highlights of the winterless North

Northland, where you can quickly scoot from coast to coast, is a skinny peninsula with rugged west coast beaches and luscious sheltered east coast coves just an hour apart.
The proximity of these two vastly different coasts will enthral visitors and offer a huge range of activities including surfing, kite-boarding, diving, dolphin-watching and superb scenery.
Take the hour-long drive east to west from beautiful Matai Bay to Ahipara for a sharp contrast. Or for the biggest buzz drive to the tip, Cape Reinga, where two oceans meet.

Hug a tree in the Waipoua Forest.
A close encounter with the world's tallest kauri tree, Tane Mahuta, is bound to impress.
Standing 51m, Tane is thought to be about 2000 years old.
"Not a bad innings, eh," says the man who guided us through the ancient forest on the peninsula's west coast.
Unfortunately, decades of logging left him with few fellow kauri for company.
Visit Tane and the older but more squat Te Matua Ngahere on a night tour with knowledgeable guides at Footprints Waipoua or stroll the track independently.
Eat fish and chips in Mangonui.
The tiny town of Mangonui might be too small for a supermarket but it boasts one of the best fish and chip shops in the country. No trip to Northland would be complete without stopping to sample their delicious snapper burgers.
This quiet seaside village has other things going for it too, such as the homely old-fashioned pub for jugs of cold brew and the stylish Waterfront Cafe for city-style fare.
See Poor Knights Islands.
Local people say the Poor Knights offer the best sub-tropical diving in the world - and Jacques Cousteau readily agreed.
Try to make the trip out there even if you don't fancy getting wet. The islands, off the east coast settlement of Tutukaka, are a marine reserve which is home to an amazing array of sea and bird life and super-sized flora and fauna. A tragic Maori tale of a massacre in the early 1800s makes the place even more intriguing. You can get out there on a Perfect Day Ocean Cruise, a full-day excursion with great food and a friendly fun crew.
Visit the Bay of Islands.
Situated on the east coast, it is internationally popular for its 144 tiny isles and handful of unspoiled seaside settlements. One of the loveliest attractions most certainly is Russell, New Zealand's first capital, where a pocket of heritage-listed properties line a long, flat foreshore. Make a day trip by ferry from busier Paihia or stay a night or two in one of the many quaint bed and breakfasts in the old town.

Swim at Matai Bay.
One of Northland's most beautiful beach, Matai Bay has two horseshoe-shaped coves that look out to the Pacific. The swimming, snorkelling and diving is fantastic here, and you can stay in the Department of Conservation campground for a close and cheap encounter with this magical place. The bay is perched at the end of the remote Karikari Peninsula, which is home to several long and sparsely populated beaches, a coastal golf club and a five-star resort, Carrington. The breathtaking view from the resort's pizza restaurant and winery is not to be missed. Ask locals to point you in the direction of Coca-Cola Lake, a peat-soaked pool where it's well worth having a dip.