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Northland is New Zealand’s northernmost region. The territory of this region is part of the North Auckland Peninsula, a peninsula about 285 km long washed by the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The northern end of the peninsula is formed by the narrow peninsula of Aupouri. The territory is mainly composed of small and low hills partly cultivated or suitable for sheep farming, partly rich in woods. The main center of Northland is the small town of Whangarei.
THE BAY OF THE ISLANDS
Along the jagged and coveted east coast, there is one of the most tourist areas of the country, the Bay of the Islands. Here you come especially for the beauty of the sea and the many islands and islets that dot the coast, this is the paradise of sailing boats and fishing lovers. The Bay of the Islands is an irregularly shaped bay that stretches for about 16 km along the northeastern coast of the island.
The Bay of Islands is a beautiful natural harbor divided into several branches, the most important of which are the Waikare Inlet to the south and the Kerikeri and Te Puna (Mangonui) to the north-west. The small historic town of Russell is located at the end of a short peninsula that extends southeast along the bay. This town was New Zealand‘s first permanent European settlement, its foundation dates back to the early 19th century.
The west coast of Northland is instead low and sandy, formed by a long strip of sand, called Ninety Mile Beach, which extends for almost 90 km. At the north end of the North Island is North Cape, which is New Zealand’s northernmost point (34 ° 23’47”S). Not far away are also the most famous Cape Reinga (34 ° 25’43”S), and Cape Maria van Diemen (34 ° 28’20”S).
