Situated on the northern side of the Karikari Peninsula in the Far North with the surrounding waters offering some of New Zealand’s best game fishing.

General Information

1Karikari Bay sits on the northern side of the Karikari Peninsula, and includes three beaches in its Bay.2Puheke Beach, Karikari Beach, Waraka Beach as well as many secluded coves.

The climate in the Bay is semi-tropical and the beaches are long, sandy and secluded. With winter temperatures in the 50s (far) and 60s and summer temperatures in the 70s, makes November through to March the best time to hit the beaches.

The Karikari Peninsula itself is a spectacular limb of land jutting out into the Pacfic Ocean, and boasting nearly 100kms of coastline. On the western side of Karikari Bay, the north-facing Puheke Beach is backed by a belt of low sand dunes, which are partially consolidated by marram grass and lupins. Puheke Hill, a dominating feature of this low-lying area, was once an island on its own before the tombolo was formed. This rocky promontory extends into the inter-tidal area, separating Puheke Beach from Karikari Beach. Backing Karikari Beach is an extensive area of consolidating sand ridges, which impounds Waimango Swamp, a wetland of significant size. North-east of Karikari is Cape Karikari from which the 3Moturoa Islands extend in a northerly direction. The Moturoa Islands are of international importance as a nesting area for seabirds, the habitat for rare lizards and is a rat-free refuge.

Attractions and Activities

The Bay and the surrounding waters offer some of New Zealand's best game, deep and land based fishing. Most of the world records for Striped Marlin of varying classes have been established off the tip of Kerikeri Peninsula. Surfcasting from the beach and rocks is also popular, as is diving. Pleasure boating or simply walking along the beaches, few coastlines offer such varitey and splendour.

Department of Conservation wetlands with shallow freshwater habitat is home to many species of wildlife including the Bittern, Black Swan, Canadian Geese, Kingfisher, Grey Duck, Mallard Duck, Paradise Duck, Kingfisher, Grey Duck, Mallard Duck, Paradise Duck, Pukeko and the White Faced Heron. On the Karikari Beach the sand dune habitat that abuts the wetlands is home to the threatened New Zealand Dotteral. (Karikari keynesting beach for the species, 38 nesting sites), Red Stilt, Oystercatcher, Spur-winged Plover, Godwit, Caspian Turn, White Fronted Turn, Eastern Little Turn and Red-biled and Black-backed Gull. The wetland and beaches offer wonderful opportunities, for observing birds in the wild.

Karikari Beach is a beautiful white sandy beach. From the nearby Puheke Hill, the highest point in the area, you can get extensive views of Karikari Bay , Puheke Bay to the east and Karikari Beach to the west. On a clear day, you can see the entire Karikari Peninsula with Doubtless Bay to the southeast and Rangaunu Bay to the southwest. Karikari Beach is perfect for relaxing, swimming, fishing and bird watching and whales can commonly seen from this beach. Dogs are not allowed on the track or beach.

New Zealand ’s top kite fishers have gathered annually at Karikari in the far North of New Zealand to participate in a New Zealand kite fishing tournament, the Karikari Kitefishing Klassic for the last few years.

History

Kairkari Peninsula is the distinctively shaped land mass on the east side of the Aupouri Peninsula, separating Rangaunu Harbour from Doubtless Bay. The rocky outer part of Karikari was formerly an island. It is now joined by accretion, which has formed Tokerau Beach on the south coast of the peninsula at 4Whatuwhiwhi. Karikari Peninsula is the traditional homeland for Ngati Kahu Tribe. One of the marae, Haiti-Tai-Marongai, is on the south coast of the peninsula at Whatuwhiwhi. This peninsula was once covered in forests of Kauri, but were cut down and milled. Once the Kauri was gone and the land exposed, came the gundiggers scouring the land for gum. It was the Dalmatian gum-seekers who drained Lake Ohia, and exposed the 30,000 year old Kauri stumps.

Accommodation

This area is quite remote and unpopulated except in holiday peak season. There are camping grounds, self-contained apartments and the Carrington Club. Carrington is a leading international class resort with luxury accommodation options and an international tournament golf course. Carrington offers an extensive range of activities within the complex including skeet or clay target shooting, mountain biking, bird watching, shell gathering, horse riding, swimming, scuba diving, walking and hiking, birdwatching, canoeing, tennis and of course golf.

Shopping

3Kaitaia is the closest main shopping area.

Maori Translations