Beach allure: Northland a top summer destination for tourists

December and January are they're the busiest visitor months for Northland. So who's here, and why? Pictured is Waipu Cove Beach. Photo / Brodie Stone

December and January are said to be Northland’s busiest months for tourism. So who are the people filling up our beaches? Brodie Stone finds out.

Head to the beach on a slightly overcast day over the New Year break and you will still find Waipu Cove, Lang’s Beach and Mangawhai pumping with activity.

Beaches are packed, cars line the roadside and nearby restaurants are full of hustle and bustle.

Visitors say the region has a relaxed atmosphere and easy access to all the essentials - especially beaches - and for many, it is just a few hour’s drive away.

The Northern Advocate spoke to a mix of international and domestic tourists enjoying a day at the beach.

Aucklander Janaka Radich was spending the day in Mangawhai with his Whangārei-based dad, Steven.

Radich had also spent the Christmas period in Whananaki with his young family and other friends from Auckland for four days.

He felt the beaches were a major drawcard and living in Auckland meant Mangawhai was not too much of a trek.

Steven said Northland’s beach culture was hard to beat and a great playground.

“My little grand-daughter just spends half her time just watching,” he said.

Kite surfing, paddle boarding and bird watching were all on offer in the Mangawhai Estuary alone.

Bernadette Rodriquez was visiting Northland from South Africa with her children.

They had spent the past three weeks in Whangārei with her brother who lives there permanently.

During their time they also visited Kai Iwi Lakes and Auckland, and headed to Langs Beach over New Year to experience more of Northland’s beaches.

Bernadette and Jacinta Rodriquez were staying with family in Whangārei for a month, all the way from South Africa. They are pictured here visiting Langs Beach. Photo / Brodie Stone

Rodriquez said as someone who lives nearly seven hours away from the coast, Northlanders were spoilt for choice.

The region felt calm and the people were friendlier than in South Africa, she said.

During their stay, most of their money was spent on groceries and takeaways.

Aucklander Veronica, who did not want her last name published, stopped at Waipu Cove on her way up to stay with her friends in Ōpua.

With a young toddler, she said Northland was her family’s favourite holiday spot.

“It’s the best part of the country.”

She said the restaurants were a big drawcard, as they mostly dined out.

Sarah Tucker, originally from Canada, is based in Clevedon, Auckland, with her husband and children.

They were staying at Mangawhai Heads at an AirBnB over New Year’s with family who had travelled from overseas.

From left, Hugh Tucker, Sarah Tucker, Elliot Kot, Stephen Tucker and Linus Knot were staying at Mangawhai Heads but visited Waipu Cove for the day. The Elliot family are based in Auckland but had travelled north with family from Canada. Photo / Brodie Stone

Mangawhai Heads was an easy drive and everything was easily accessible, Tucker said.

Her own family have also visited the Bay of Islands regularly because of the warmer weather and beaches.

Jon-Brian Parker, from Waihī, was spending 10 days at Waipu Cove as part of an annual family holiday.

Jon-Brian Parker, from Auckland, was visiting Waipu Cove for 10 days with his family, with their trusty caravan. Photo / Brodie Stone

During their time in Northland the family spend money on caravan renovations where needed and food, he said.

Northland Inc head of destinations and communications Tania Burt felt domestic visitors chose Northland for their summer getaways because of the coastline, which isn’t far away from the country’s largest city, Auckland.

Historic Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment data suggests Aucklanders and Northlanders travelling in Northland made up the biggest portion of visitor card spending.

The accommodation data programme showed more than 80% of Northland’s total overnight stays were domestic.

When it comes to overseas visitors, people from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom were the top contributors to international tourism card spending between December 2023 to February 2024 in New Zealand.

Burt said international tourists might be drawn in by Northland’s vital connection to New Zealand’s history, including the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Tāne Mahuta.

Burt said Northland’s food and beverage scene was on the rise and coupled with cultural experiences and world-class nature, it was the ideal spot.

“Northland has so much to offer, the forecast for summer is looking good and the summer season lingers longer up here, so it’s a great time for visitors to come on up and enjoy our region.”

Spots such as the Poor Knights - recently recognised in National Geographic - were world-class, she said.

According to infometrics data, the tourism sector equates to 5% - a about $491m - of the region’s total GDP.

Brodie Stone is an education and general news reporter at the Advocate. Brodie has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.