Despite the lack of foreign tourists, Northland has been buzzing this Easter holiday weekend, with many visitors flocking here for the first time as international borders remain closed.
Among them are Auckland couples Milad Nasiri and Valentina Cartes and their friends, Edward Balandino and Pamela Riquelme, with their 1-year-old son, Noah. They pitched tents at the Ruakākā Beach Holiday Park and enthused about their first visit to Northland.
Nasiri is from Iran, Balandino is Brazilian while the other two are Chilean.
It was their first camp in Northland since being in New Zealand for about seven years and they marvelled at the peace and tranquil environment they enjoyed in Ruakākā.
"We mostly go holidaying to Rotorua and the South Island but we heard from people that beaches in Northland are nice and decided to check it out and to also get away from Auckland," Nasiri said.