Kaitaia
Located in the Far North District of Northland, New Zealand, it is the last major town on the State Highway 1 and one of the nation’s oldest, that is a gateway to Cape Reinga. Situated near the unending paradise of the Ninety Mile beach, this town has an interesting mix of Māori and Dalmatian ancestry.
Kaitaia has 3 main cultures that built the town in the past, these are – Māori, English and Croatian. You will see a welcoming board in 3 languages as you enter Kaitaia. It was one of the first to be settled by both Maori and Europeans. Kaitaia is full of beautiful bays, beaches, lush forests and beautiful farm lands.
In Māori, the word Kaitaia means the ‘abundance of food’, as it has a rich bird life in the ancient Kauri forests, an endless supply of seafood along the Ninety Mile Beach. Nowadays it also has many farms and orchards surrounding the town.
Kaitaia has a humid subtropical climate with really hot temperatures in summer and plenty of rain in winter.
Always use sunblock when beeing outdoors in NZ when the sun is out!
Stats provided by climate-data.org
Kaitaia town
Kaitaia has a domestic airport, that is planned to become international. It has an impressive informational center ‘Te Ahu’, huge cheap supermarkets and fast food.
It has a number of great accommodations and is a gateway to the Ninety Mile Beach and Cape Reinga, offering a range of tour operators present in Kaitaia.
Panoramic view of the Ninety Mile Beach
Kaitaia Tracks and Walks
- Lake Ngatu Track. Enjoy an easy 4km loop track along the freshwater dune lake and recreation reserve. See native birds and enjoy the calm freshwater views.
- Kaitaia Walkway is a joyful 1,5h walk along the lovely Kauri grove and panoramic views.
- Herekino Forest Track which is 15km long and wonders you around the native forest, that is home to a big amount of rare and endangered species, including the North Island Brown Kiwi, long-tailed bat and kauri snail!
Art and Culture
- Te Ahu Centre is a worth-visiting magnificent building. Has an impressive library, tourism I-site centre, cinema, council offices, tree walkway and more, all in one place.
The four huge wood carvings gracing the entrance to the library are a must see for all tourists and locals alike. Whole tree trunks have been carved with depictions of Maori mythology, sea creatures and people, including the early European settlers. There are whole stories told in the carvings and the casual visitor should ask a local passerby to explain them. Stunning, gorgeous, world class woodwork. Kaitaia cinema, located in the Te Ahu center, has new movies shown every weekend, with tickets costing 13$/adult.
Kaitaia Museum, running for over 50 years and always having some interesting exhibitions going on, showcasing local artists, Far North social history and more.
Markets and Shops
Saturday Market is the biggest and most popular market in the Far North region. Runs every Saturday from 7am to 12pm, offering a great variety of local produce, organic fruit and veggies, local crafts and freshly made food. Located at 11 Matthews Ave, Kaitaia.
Kaitaia is a hub for big warehouses and supermarkets, like Pak’n’Save, Warehouse, Mitre 10 and more. They are cheap and have an impressive range of goods. If you are travelling further north, make sure to stock-up in Kaitaia, as after this town there won’t be any shops, except for the Pukenui town with its Liquor shop and Dairy, and Houhora with the Four Square shop, where prices are way higher.
Experiences not to miss when in Kaitaia
- Awanui Ancient Kauri Kingdom – see the 50,000 old precious swamp kauri trees, that were fallen decades ago by a huge tsunami. Explore an impressive collection of sculptures, souvenirs and furniture, all made out of the ancient kauri that are being dug up from a swamp on the farm land nearby. See the most expensive items for sale, like a magnificent sofa carved from a single stump selling for 35 000 NZD!
Explore the antient Kauri products online too! - Horse tracks, 4×4 beach driving, sand-dunes riding and more! Explore the top attractions around Kaitaia on Trip Advisor.
- Tasty shells harvesting on the Ninety Mile Beach.
- Taste wine at the country’s northernmost vineyard, nestled on Northland’s stunning Karikari Peninsula. Check out the Trip Advisor reviews for this place.
- Snapper Bonanza yearly event for those mad fishermen who love to compete!
Usefull Links
- Department of Conservation Office in Kaitaia – contact details
- Trip Advisor top things to do in Kaitaia
- Events in Kaitaia – markets, Māori events, Food festivals and more
