December and January are the peak months for domestic visitors to Northland and February for international arrivals who spend more per day on average than Kiwis.
Statistics from MBIE shows the estimated tourism earnings for Northland last year was $1.037b, with Far North earning $481m, Whangarei $447m, and Kaipara $109m.
The top three spenders were New Zealanders who forked out an estimated $773m, Australians $71 million, and $44m by British tourists.
Retail sales topped the list of income earners at $208m, followed by $187m on transport, $164m on alcohol, food and beverages, $140m on fuel and automotive products, and the rest on other activities.
Northland is already the sixth largest region in terms of visitor spend and Northland Inc expects healthy growth rates to continue for the February to April international visitor peak.
Northland tourism leader Jeroen Jongejans said a nearly-completed transport link from Auckland Airport on to State Highway One that bypassed the City of Sails and the completion of the Puhoi north highway would see more tourists heading north.
A Hundertwasser art centre in Whangarei, warm weather, and an increase in the arrival of cruise ships to the Bay of Islands would also attract both local and international tourists to Northland, he said.
Tourism NZ last month launched a two-month campaign in Melbourne aimed at encouraging people there to visit Northland in the shoulder season.
Mr Jongejans, co-owner of Dive Tutukaka and deputy chair of the Tourism Industry Association, said the whole tourism industry in Northland was looking for investors in areas such as four- and five-star hotels the region lacked.
"Northland's continued success is due to the fact we've been able to successfully market our point of difference and provide good quality service so that tourists are tempted to come back and recommend Northland to others," he said.
The rapidly growing Chinese market, was used to the six- and seven-star accommodation which Northland may be able to provide in future.
Tourism forecasts predict that China will become New Zealand's largest market in terms of expenditure by 2017.
