10 Paihia is a very good place to stay if you want to explore Northland. If...
Paihia is a very good place to stay if you want to explore Northland. If you are driving, you can go on your own to the tip of the North Island in about 3 hours. You can drive over to the Kauri Forest on the west side in about 1.5 hours. You can get tours out of Paihia for the Bay of Islands, the Ninety Mile Beach/Cape Reinga, Waitangi Treaty Grounds (you can walk there, about 3 km), rent kayaks or paddle boards, get fishing charters, take a ferry to Russell (or drive there). We spent 5 nights there and could have stayed a few more days and done even more.
Paul, United States of America