Giant Sand Dunes — Attraction in Te Hiku Community

Natural attraction. Amazing to see the majestic, constantly shifting sand dunes, As if the breath-taking glory of Ninety Mile Beach wasn’t enough, right at the northern end, near the Te Paki Stream, are some seriously steep and seriously fun sand dunes.

Just a short drive off the main road north to Cape Rēinga, they are a small detour that delivers a big reward.

You’ll need a sandboard for the adrenaline-pumping ride down, and you can just rent one onsite, real simple. In the busy season, you might want to pre-book, and you’ll need ID. Yep, even for a sandboard, and they’re not even motorised. Though by the time you get to the bottom, you might start to wonder. What, gravity did that? So much fun for trying the sand

And if you want to clock the view – and the view from the top is amazing – then you gotta scale the heights. Right, again? And, seriously, grandmas do it. They do! So, what are you waiting for? You might want to ditch the shoes – there’s the Te Paki Stream to cross – and you might also want to take a scarf (or something that doubles as one) to cover your mouth. You’ll get some serious speed up going down, and you won’t want a mouth full of sand. Just sayin’. Here’s a thought for the less energetic – a roam around the dunes is an experience in itself. You certainly don’t feel like you’re just a stone’s throw from Northland sheep pasture land. It’s a desert out there – the landscape is outstanding. This is one of those experiences you just don’t see coming, where an innocuous yellow signpost leads to something spectacular and unexpected. ‘‘I was just cruising up to the Cape," you’ll say. Next thing you’re flying...

I feel so bad to give this beautiful place such a bad review, your should come here and experience it yourself but please be careful about the local board rental. This is a story you might not experience yourself: I went there with a tour and definitely had a good time until we arrived at these dunes. We brought our own body boards to surf the famous dunes down. But there was a tall Maori sells man which tried to rent his once for 15$. He told us we were not allowed to take our own identical boards up the dunes which was a big disappointment. We started arguing with him and tried to get him to show his license for selling and state a valid reason for us not to have a good time. He started to get really aggressive which is when he pushed our tour guide into the bus and sat down on him. After one of my members Pulled out a camera to film the situation, he released our guide but refused to let us on the dunes with our board. Because we noticed the situation is getting out of control we just went up the dunes without boards and locked our bus. The Maori guy didn’t get his cash and we didn’t have the full experience which is kind of a shame. I personally expected different especially by a Maori who are normally so friendly and open to tourists and not just running after our cash. He disrespected his culture and I would be ashamed to stand...

Giant Sand Dunes in Cape Reinga is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking adventure and stunning scenery! The vast expanse of golden sands offers a striking contrast to the lush green landscapes surrounding it. I had an absolute blast sandboarding down the dunes. There are surfboards for just $15 that you can hire. The thrill of gliding down the slopes was something I’ll never forget.

However, I do recommend bringing a pair of socks, as the sand can get surprisingly hot underfoot, especially on a sunny day. They saved my feet from the burning surface and made the experience much more enjoyable. Bring along a small backpack to keep your essentials safe — I made sure to pack my keys, wallet, wipes, and a water bottle, which came in handy during a much-needed break in the shade.

Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or simply looking to take in the breathtaking views, the Giant Sand Dunes offer something for everyone. Just be sure to plan your visit early in the day to avoid the heat and have plenty of time to explore! I highly recommend this adventure for families, friends, and solo travelers alike....