Cape Reinga

We travelled all the way up to the northernmost point of New Zealand today, Cape Reinga (well nearly ... apparently there's a point 3km further north but you can't get to it!)

Again to quote wikipedia: "Cape Reinga, official name Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, is the northwesternmost tip of the Aupouri Peninsula, at the northern end of the North Island of New Zealand. Cape Reinga is more than 100 km north of the nearest small town of Kaitaia. The 'Te Rerenga Wairua' component of the name in Māori language means the leaping-off place of spirits. The 'Reinga' part of the name is the Māori language word meaning the underworld. Both refer to the Māori belief that the cape is the point where the spirits of the dead enter the underworld.

Its an amazing place! We walked to one of the beaches and down to the point on the picture here which is the point where the Maoris believe the spirits of the dead enter the underworld. It was incredibly windy, quite spooky and very atmospheric.

On the way we stopped at 90 mile beach and had a walk here too ... amazing beach with hardly anyone on it except the odd 4 wheel drive whizzing by!

We camped overnight in a very wild and windy place ... just us, one other van and two girls in a tent ... nutters!