Imagine standing atop a cliff with 360-degree views of the rugged coastal line and emerald grassy hills or stepping on a secluded beach covered in seashells from one end to another. My 8-day road trip in North Island New Zealand was an incredible journey exploring unique otherwordly landscapes, admiring ancient lakes, and hiking in stunning places. This post describes Day 1 of our road trip where we explored the hidden gems in the Whangaparāoa peninsula.
Here’s the complete itinerary – 8 Day road trip in North Island New Zealand
Whangaparāoa is about 45 km from Auckland and is known for its picturesque coastline, quiet beaches, and stunning walking tracks.
We set off early for Whangaparāoa, as I read that it has family-friendly hiking trails and plenty of beaches. My son (almost 5 years old) had his heart set on some beach time, so it was the perfect way to combine both activities in one trip.
Matakatia Beach
When we reached the Whangaparāoa area, on a whim we picked a beach on the map and headed there. I was so surprised and also thrilled to find the shore covered in seashellls – it felt like pure luck. Usually, I am the one planning our trips and researching unique places, but somehow, it is my husband who always stumbles upon unique, fascinating spots by sheer accident.
This was the second time my husband found a beach like this. The first time it was while road tripping in Tasmania – Day 2 Tasmania Road Trip
My husband and son discovered a rope swing hanging from a tree, which kept them occupied for a while. I wandered along the beach, savoring the cool sea breeze and the crunch of seashells beneath my feet.
Tindalls Beach
After taking in the beauty of the beach, we made our way to Tindalls Beach. It was a bit busier than Matakatia Beach, yet peaceful compared to the popular beaches I have visited in Sydney. My son ran straight for the shore the moment he saw the waves. We enjoyed about 20 minutes there before he started feeling chilly. We headed to the nearby public restrooms to change him and get ready for the next part of our adventure.
Shakespear Regional Park
I was excitedly looking forward to do my first bushwalk in New Zealand. I chose this park as it was said to be kids friendly. Shakespear Regional Park offers several trails with breathtaking views of the coastline. It was a gorgeous, sunny December morning – perfect for a coastal walk. The trail is also quite exposed, so we put on another layer of sunscreen and carried water with us.
The scenary took my breath away. An idyllic coastal line with cows and sheep leisurely grazing across rolling green hills. Like a life-size painting. Shakespear Regional Park is one of New Zealand’s few open sanctuaries, meaning it is a predator-free area. Special pest-proof fences help protect native wildlife, allowing species like kiwi birds and bellbirds to thrive.
We started on the Kanuka Track, a 15-minute trail, which then merged with the Heritage Trail. And before we knew it, we found ourselves on the Lookout Trail. Originally, we had planned for a shorter walk, but views and the weather was so fantastic that we just kept going. Exploring different trails that we came across. With a few water and rest breaks, even our son managed to complete the hike. Here’s the track details and map .
Picture – perfect!!
Auckland council had erected 16 huge ornate golden frames in different locations in 1999. I found one (called Giant Frame) on Bruce Harvey Drive. You can find a few more here – golden frames.
I stood by the lookout, breathing in the fresh air and soaking up the view. Bliss!!
After the walk, we drove towards Big Manly beach. But both my husband and my kid needed a short nap. So I walked around and immersed myself in the view as they slept soundly in the car. This seemed like an excellent beach for water activities. But too bad, it was starting to get late and we had plans for the next day.
The trip back was quite uneventful. We stopped for late lunch and charged our car, before heading to our hotel. Whangaparāoa – first day of our New Zealand trip – was quite memorable.
Day 2 – Step into the magical Middle Earth – Welcome to Hobbiton Movie Set
Related post – 2 Days in Rotorua – Geothermal Wonders, Hell’s Gate, and Stunning lakes
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Oh my god, such gorgeous places you got to visit, Raj! It’s made me yearn for a trip all over again…loved the glorious skies and the large vistas of emerald everywhere…looks so calm and serene everywhere! The Down Under has been on my bucket list for ages now. Got to make it happen sometime soon. 🙂
You will love the serenity here… so quiet and beautiful that it made me forget about everything else 🙂 Hope you get to make the trip soon.
what a stunning place
The pictures are so beaautiful, idyllic and serene! I have Aus & NZ on my bucket list. Your trips keep me enthralled till I can see it myself. Hope you have wonderful holidays Raj.
thank you 😀 Glad you enjoyed this post 🙂
I’m so jealous, it looks beautiful! I’m stuck inside at the moment, and the drippy weather isn’t helping my cravings for sunshine and beaches. It’s great to hear that you had such a lovely trip!
I crave for some sun and sand too. It is that time of the year after all. Hope you have great holiday season 🙂