Rangiputa, Far North, New Zealand

July 27, 2012- Rangiputa, Far North, New Zealand

For this lovely beach hike I'll spare you the directions, its gets a little tricky somewhere over the Pacific, however if you do find yourself in the Far North of New Zealand I highly recommend finding your way to the beach; isn't hard the country is surrounded by them, literally.

This particular hike comes complimentary with the stay at the vacation house "bach" in Rangiputa, one coastal village in the oh so certain, Doubtless Bay, thank you Captain Cook for your astute observation, and to the locals for keeping such an apt name.

Once you find your way to Rangiputa, just north of the Bay of Islands (also a great place to visit) and South of Cape Reinga (also a nice day trip), follow the main road the mile or so to it's conclusion at Puwheke Marginal Strip. It's a small stretch of beach maintained by the Department of Conservation (DOC), I imagine much like our state parks in the states.

Park just beyond the sign, or if you are staying at the Bach, simply open the sliding door, step carefully down the steps, across the lawn and road and down another small set of stairs.

The beach here is quite flat, and the tide goes out quite far. During low tide there are a few exposed rocks and plenty of interesting shells to find. I recommend taking a left from the sign and heading southeast along the beach toward the orange buoys. This will take you past a number of baches (beach vacation homes) and a small beach front hotel. On your right over the water is a small stretch of land that protrudes into the bay making the water quite sheltered and calm.

Speaking of water, even on a wintery day the water is clear and calm, and comparable in temperature to the nicest of days on the other side of the Pacific. It is rather hard to believe but this beach is in fact the same water found off the west coast of the States. If the weather is nice I'd recommend a stroll through the water. It is so clear and flat on this beach that a stroll is exactly what you'd be doing.

This hike is rather unlimited, confined only by the time you have available. From the "trail head" a tall orange marker is visible approximately a mile down shore. This is the point that I chose to hike to, and back. With frequent stops for pictures and the occasional shell this hike round trip took just over an hour in total. Just beyond the marker is a rather unique inlet that is part beach, and part marsh. Definitely worth a quick look.

On the way back the beach extends beyond the "trail head" and around the corner to a very private and sheltered beach with a few tide pools at low tide. Be sure to include this into your adventure, as it is a great way to conclude the hike.

On this day, thanks to the switch in hemispheres, I enjoyed wintery weather: breezy and highs in the mid teens (Celsius). But still a clear and beautiful day. I am told that in the summer it is much nicer, I imagine high 20's, but it is also more crowded. I was able to enjoy this hike in complete isolation from any other hikers, tourists and locals alike, however considering the population of this tiny village I cant imagine that even on the most crowded of days that it would be unpleasant.

Of course, the empty beach may have been in part due to my timing. Jet lag and a slight affinity for dawn on the beach, had me up and hiking in the twilight, watching the sunrise over the eastern hills and turning the western sky a lovely shade of pink. I highly recommend a sunrise beach hike at least once in your life, even if you cant manage it on this visit.

Pros: breathtaking views, calm water, pristine white sand beaches, wonderful people (if you can find any).

Cons: a bit of a long way to travel (had to be mentioned), slightly cold in the winter.

Overall Rating: 1/5 for difficulty, 5/5 for overall pleasantness (would have been a 6 if i didn't have to wear the extent of my winter wardrobe).

Kia Ora mate!