cavergirl

We are spending a month touring NZ and it was strongly suggested by some Kiwi friends that we take a bus tour to Cape Reinga. There are several companies that do this tour at varying prices. Any recommendations or comments from those Fodorites who might have done this tour? Is it worth doing for a day? What company do you recommend?
We will be staying in Paihia.

Thanks.

peterSale

I went thirty year ago and had a great time. It is one of the few things that I remember from the 4 week trip. Does that help?

pgriffin

I've been to Cape Reinga but with my own wheels so I cannot comment specifically on a bus tour. What I would say is that I did overnight there and it is pretty cool waking up in one of the $5 campsites and going for a run on the beach and a dip in the ocean. It is so tranquil that at 6 a.m. you can appreciate it even more because of the lack of tourists.

cavergirl

Like hearing fro Petersale that it was a highlight to be remembered 30 years later. Still hoping for some input on a bus tour company. We will have a rental car so could drive it ourselves but prefer leaving the driving to someone else since we will be doing a lot of that later on.

someotherguy

I went with Harrison's of Kaitai about 5 years ago. It was excellent.

I had inquired about tours to Cape Reinga at the I-Site office in Paihia a few days earlier. The guy there indicated they are all the same and gave me some brochures, but pointed out that Harrison's is half the price of the others (presumably because you have to get to Kaitai) and includes lunch. My recollection of the brochures is that Harrison's also go to a couple of places the others don't. And you can stop at Mangonui on the way back for the famous fish and chips.

I had to leave Paihia about 7am to get to Kaitai in time, but it was a delightful scenic drive in the atmospheric dawn (this was in winter). There was only me and two others signed up for that day, so we used a Toyota Land Cruiser instead of a bus, with an excellent Maori driver/guide. When I booked (at the I-Site office) I had been the only one and I asked what would happen if no-one else signed up; they said they'd put me on another bus (presumably from another company).

It was a really good day out, driving north up the road, and back along 90 mile beach (which we got to by driving down a river). We stopped at several interesting places along the way, and had a good packed lunch in a pleasant park near Cape Reinga. I'd do it again and recommend it. Of course, it might be different in summer, with lots of people in a big bus.

cavergirl

Thanks someotherguy. I had back-burnered booking the trip and thank you for your input. I was looking at Harrison's and saw the price was a lot cheaper and worried why that was the case so glad to get your input. I think we will go ahead and book with them.