No doubt, the Far North does deliver on its promised oohs and ahhhs. Cape Reinga is magnificent with its criss-crossing wave turbulence where the seas actually do collide.

The Te Paki Dunes are superlatively large and jaw-drop beautiful and explorably FUN! 90-Mile Beach is the longest in NZ, even if you can't/won't drive it and only see its miles via a tour bus. Camping at Spirits Bay will stoke your spirit. The endless lefts at Ahipara's "Shippies" surf beach are Endless Summer-worthy. The Far North definitely delivers above its low-key hype.

Personally speaking, there are no better beaches anywhere in NZ for long stretches of gorgeous solitude than up here at the tip. Think Ahipara's dunes, the trio of beaches on the Te Werahi loop, Spirits Bay, Rarawa's hidden north expanse, Puheke's whitesand glory, Maitai's twin smiles. Simply divine stretches of gorgeous beach serenity. Toss in some views at Mahinepua and St Paul's Rock and you'll have a coastal-beauty overload. Oh my god, I need to stop typing and get myself up to the Far North!!

In mid-summer, when ALL the Far North water is swimmably warm, there's no place l'd rather spend a week on the North Island.

Kaitaia is the major town of the Far North, but it has little to interest visitors other than its large Pak 'n' Save grocery store. Other than Kaitaia there are only tiny little villages with tiny little markets in all the Far North. In mid-summer, when ALL the Far North water is swimmably warm, there's no place l'd rather spend a week on the North Island.