Far North District: Coastal Views, Culture and History

In the Far North District, coastal scenery, architectural history and regional history offer distinct travel interests. The Te Paki Coastal Track features views of the North Coast, regenerating bush and large, wind-shaped sand dunes. The former Mangonui Courthouse, the Stone Store in Kerikeri and Pompallier in Russell add historical highlights; the Te Ahu Museum in Kaitāia explores the district’s history. If you are looking for accommodation, you can start by considering whether walking landscapes, buildings or museum topics will shape your stay. The examples below help distinguish between these interests.

Historic buildings in Mangonui, Kerikeri and Russell

In Mangonui, the former Mangonui Courthouse is a well-preserved courthouse dating from the late 19th century, built in 1892. As an unusually intact example of a small courthouse, it is nationally significant. Its age is not the only notable feature: the well-preserved structure also characterises this historic site.

The Stone Store in Kerikeri was built between 1832 and 1836. It is New Zealand’s oldest intact stone building and also the country’s oldest surviving warehouse. Pompallier in Russell was built between 1841 and 1842 and is one of New Zealand’s earliest surviving French colonial buildings. The two structures represent different architectural categories: a stone building and warehouse in one case, an early French colonial building in the other. Together with the courthouse in Mangonui, they offer several clearly distinct points of reference for the district’s architectural history.

Te Ahu Museum: history and different ways to explore it

Located in the Te Ahu Centre in Kaitāia, the Te Ahu Museum presents the history of the Far North District. Topics include pre-European Māori artefacts, gold mining, the Dalmatian heritage, kauri gum and timber, early shipwrecks, and missionaries and pioneers. This breadth makes the museum a starting point for exploring different aspects of regional history, rather than just one historical topic.

Films, interactive exhibits, virtual landscape tours and informative displays complement the collection with different ways to engage with it. The museum caters to visitors of all ages. It also has an extensive archive of documents, journals, newspapers, maps and photographs, with more than 500 records available online. Those who want to explore specific topics before visiting can also do so through historical documents and images.

Te Paki Coastal Track: coastal views and hiking options

The Te Paki Coastal Track combines views of the North Coast with regenerating bush and large, wind-shaped sand dunes. You can walk the entire track or choose selected sections. There are four campsites along the route. Choosing between the full track and individual sections gives you different ways to fit the walk into your plans, without requiring you to commit to a specific walking time.

As operating conditions and closures can change, check the latest information from the Department of Conservation before setting out. This will help you plan according to the information available for the route at the time.

Experiences to guide your accommodation search

When searching for hotels in the Far North District, it helps to consider your preferred focus: is your trip mainly about historic buildings and the collections at Te Ahu Museum, or would you like to include the Te Paki Coastal Track? The buildings offer a variety of historical points of interest, while the track puts scenery and hiking options front and centre. Which experiences matter most to you is a question of personal travel planning.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Paihia, Russell, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Taipa-Mangonui, Opua, Ahipara, Whangaroa, Opononi, Matauri Bay, Waipapakauri, Coopers Beach, Waitangi, Pakaraka, Broadwood, Waimate North, Te Tii, Haruru, Waipoua Forest, Okaihau, Kawakawa, Te Kao.

For the main travel overview: Northland.