1. Kapowairua/Spirits Bay Campsite

The track begins on a broad sweep of Spirits Bay, almost 10km long, and traverses across the base of dunes with the startlingly blue sea ever present. Look out for dotterels, godwits and oystercatchers. At the beach’s western end, the track crosses the Waitahora Lagoon on a long boardwalk, before sidling across a forested ridge and then descending to Whangākea Beach. The Pandora Campsite lies slightly inland.

2. Pandora Campsite

From the campsite, the Te Paki track climbs out of the Whangākea Valley, until gaining a ridge some distance from the shoreline. This is one of the bigger climbs of the tramp, which otherwise has little climbing, but grand views of the coastal scenery offer plenty of compensation. For the next couple of hours, the track stays on the spine of the ridge, which is clothed in coastal vegetation, before reaching the old pa site at Tirikawa. Here the route descends to the coast once more, where it reaches Tapotupotu Bay and the campsite.

 3. Tapotupotu Bay campsite

This campsite, lying just east of Cape Reinga, is also accessible by road, so offers another possible starting point for trampers with less time. Fringed by pohutukawa trees, and framed by coastal cliffs and reefs on either side, it’s a picturesque wee curl of a bay, with the Te Paki Coastal Track continuing at its western end.

4. Sandy Bay

To avoid impassable cliffs, the track sidles high, climbing almost 200m before descending again to Sandy Bay, crossing a small stream and resuming a climb to perhaps the most famous headland in the country. 

5. Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua

The renowned lighthouse and signpost of Cape Reinga have appeared in countless calendars, on postage stamps, and in movies. To Maori, this is the launching point of departed souls and a place of deep cultural significance.   

It seems every New Zealander wants to visit Cape Reinga at some stage in their life, even if it is not – as popularly believed – the northernmost point of the country’s mainland (that honour belongs to the Hikurua/de Serville Cliffs of North Cape, lying 30km east). There’s something special about arriving here on foot, having earned the view with a bit of decent, honest sweat. Here, the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meet in a clashing of currents and swells.

6. Te Werahi Beach

Beyond, the track swings south-westward, descending towards Te Werahi Beach – a wide sweep of sand and dunes that separates Cape Reinga from Cape Maria van Diemen. Following the shoreline, the route reaches Te Werahi Stream, which can be difficult to cross in flood, but normally presents nothing more than wet feet.

7. Herangi Hill

The track climbs, which can be hard work in the loose sand, to Herangi Hill, a curious mound of wind-sculpted sand and exposed ultramafic rock with fine views over Cape Maria van Diemen. 

8. Cape Maria van Diemen

Dutch mariner Abel Tasman named this cape on his visit to Aotearoa in 1642-43. Like many before him and since, the name was a carefully chosen political one; by doing so, Abel Tasman acknowledged the wife of his benefactor, Anthony van Diemen. The cape is reached on a sidetrack from the main Te Paki route, which leads to an attractive rocky shore, with the Motuopao Island and its derelict lighthouse lying just offshore.

9. Twilight/Te Werahi Loop Track

For those with limited time, or those needing an escape route, this track leads back to SH1, passing through the wetlands of the Te Werahi Stream en route.

10. Twilight Beach and campsite

The main Te Paki track bends south, following a high terrace overlooking the bluffs of Maungatiketike Point. Wind-battered coastal plants eke out an uncertain existence in this harsh, often-parched terrain through which the track wends until a descent to Twilight Beach. The campsite lies at the far end of the beach. 

11. Tiriparepa/Scott Point

From Twilight Beach campsite, the track climbs up over yet another headland, known as Tiriparepa or Scott Point. It separates Twilight Beach from its more famous and vastly longer Ninety Mile Beach/Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē. On a good day, views of the wide stretch of sand recede into the haze-softened distance, with the relentless breakers of the Tasman Sea foaming in.

12. Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē/Ninety Mile Beach

Low tide is certainly the best time to walk this section of the trail, when you can pick the firmest sand – usually that recently exposed by the retreating tide. Be warned, however, that walking on sand can be unexpectedly hard. The endless pounding on the unchanging surface can cause blisters, bruised feet, or both. Nevertheless, there’s a pleasing simplicity to this sort of strolling, breathing in the salty air without having to watch your feet.

13. Te Paki Stream and sand dunes 

While Te Araroa hikers have the entire length of the beach to walk, those walking the Te Paki section turn inland after only 5km or so, where Te Paki Stream disgorges onto the shore. The route heads inland, following the stream, into what is possibly the highlight of the entire track – these extensive dunes. It’s well worth allowing enough time to wander in this landscape of sand mountains, which can easily swallow people, almost literally. Wind-rippled dunes, with writhing, serpent-like spines; steep sandy faces, exposed rocks and the sheer vastness of the dune system make this a place to marvel at the artistry of nature. 

The track ends on the edge of the dunes, at Te Paki Stream Road car park.