The Quiet Edge
Wild coastline, lighthouses and a lone volcano
8 destinationsThe east coast catches the first sunrise in the world, and the bottom of the North Island catches the weather. Long empty beaches, lighthouses at the end of gravel roads, a lake deep in the bush, and a volcano standing on its own with the sea behind it. It takes a bit more effort to reach some of these and that is exactly why they are so good.
Te Mata Peak
You can drive almost to the top of Te Mata Peak and walk a short trail to the summit with big views over the Hawkes Bay plains and vineyards. The rock face on one side drops sharply away and gives it a dramatic edge that makes it feel much more serious than a short walk. Sunrise and sunset from up here are genuinely worth setting an alarm for.
Cape Kidnappers
Kiwi Kids BottleThe dramatic tip of a headland in Hawke's Bay that is home to the largest mainland gannet colony in the world. Thousands of birds nest right on the cliff edge, close enough to watch them come and go, with the sea stretching out below the striped sandstone cliffs. You can walk the beach at low tide or take a tour out to the point.
Lake Waikaremoana
A deep, misty lake wrapped in the ancient forest of Te Urewera, and one of the most atmospheric places in the North Island. The Great Walk loops right around it, but even a short stretch of the track or a swim off one of the bays gives you a feel for how remote and untouched this place is. Mist hangs over the water in the mornings and the bush comes right down to the shore.
Tolaga Bay
Home to the longest wharf in the country, stretching an incredible 660 metres out over the water on the remote East Coast. Built to load ships back when the road in was rough, it is now a favourite spot for a walk and a fish. The drive out here through the East Cape is half the appeal, all rolling farmland, empty beaches and small coastal settlements.
Bridge to Nowhere
A lone concrete bridge standing deep in the Whanganui bush, all that remains of an abandoned settlement that was cut off and reclaimed by the forest. The magic is in getting there, either by jet boat up the Whanganui River or by mountain bike along the old valley track, followed by a short walk through the trees. A strange and slightly eerie piece of history swallowed by the wild.
Mt Taranaki
The near-perfect volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki rises 2,518 metres from the surrounding farmland — one of the most symmetrical mountains on earth and a place of deep spiritual significance in Māori tradition. The summit route is a serious alpine undertaking that demands experience and favourable weather, but the reward is a 360-degree view stretching from Ruapehu to the Tasman Sea. Few summits in New Zealand hit harder.
Cape Palliser
Cape Palliser is the southernmost point of the North Island and you really feel like you are at the edge of the world out here. There is a lighthouse at the top of a long flight of steps, a seal colony on the rocks below, and the Wairarapa mountains behind you. The drive out along the coast is half the fun.
Castlepoint Lighthouse
Kiwi Kids BottleA white lighthouse stands on a rocky headland above a wide beach and a small sheltered lagoon. The coastline here is raw and on a stormy day the waves crash hard against the rocks below the light. It is a long drive from Wellington but one of the best drives in the lower North Island.
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