Ninety Mile Beach
Discussion
In Whangarei at the moment and driving as far north as I can before coming back to Auckland. My rote could take me here but is it worth the risk? One of those things I've always wanted to do but I've read plenty of warnings in the guidebooks and apparently if you get stuck the AA won't tow you out.
So would doing it alone in a 2wd van be a stupid idea or is it ok if you're careful?
So would doing it alone in a 2wd van be a stupid idea or is it ok if you're careful?
That is a tricky decision and to be honest I wouldnt do it unless you got a shovel to dig yourself out if you do veer off into the soft stuff! I just got back from up there last week for holidays. They have had some rain so parts of it is compact and super easy to drive on and some is still soft and mushy.
This is the access 4WD track used by the tourist buses at the top of 90 mile beach ! They park up around the corner so people can surf the dunes and then they drive down the beach, not sure if they drive part of it or all the way down to Ahipara.
We drove on to the beach from Ahipara for a short distance and came back, our car of course was loving it! but I believe you can do a half trip to a road that comes out by Hukatere that leads you back onto the main road at Houhora township. In any case its a blast and dont forget to surf the dunes at the top. That is fun, or we punished ourselves and pushed bikes up the hills and went down on those too Lol!! Also if you do it get yourself to a service station with a jet washer afterwards!! SALT
Have fun!!
This is the access 4WD track used by the tourist buses at the top of 90 mile beach ! They park up around the corner so people can surf the dunes and then they drive down the beach, not sure if they drive part of it or all the way down to Ahipara.
We drove on to the beach from Ahipara for a short distance and came back, our car of course was loving it! but I believe you can do a half trip to a road that comes out by Hukatere that leads you back onto the main road at Houhora township. In any case its a blast and dont forget to surf the dunes at the top. That is fun, or we punished ourselves and pushed bikes up the hills and went down on those too Lol!! Also if you do it get yourself to a service station with a jet washer afterwards!! SALT
Have fun!!
I think I'd rather be in a 4X4 because, as Kylie said, if you hit a soft patch in a 2WD there is no good outcome without a spade + winch or perhaps someone in a passing 4WD with a tow rope.
Recently we got stuck on Muriwai. Even with some planks we found and several people pushing we were going nowhere. Until I realised that I was still in 2WD mode
With the flick of a switch (4WD mode engaged) we were underway 
FYI the longest stretch of drivable coastline is further south of Ninty Mile Beach, from Aranga Beach to Pouto Point. If you return via SH12 to see Tane Mahuta and the Kaiiwi Lakes you will be in the area. If seen 2WD vehicle on the stretch between Baylys Beach and Glinks Gully. Although a friend took his Commodore there and ended up needing a tow.
Recently we got stuck on Muriwai. Even with some planks we found and several people pushing we were going nowhere. Until I realised that I was still in 2WD mode
With the flick of a switch (4WD mode engaged) we were underway FYI the longest stretch of drivable coastline is further south of Ninty Mile Beach, from Aranga Beach to Pouto Point. If you return via SH12 to see Tane Mahuta and the Kaiiwi Lakes you will be in the area. If seen 2WD vehicle on the stretch between Baylys Beach and Glinks Gully. Although a friend took his Commodore there and ended up needing a tow.
Well I went down to the beach, took one look and decided there was no way I'd even attempt it! There has been a lot of rain recently and even the access area was waterlogged and very soft. I wasn't sure of the tide times and have already been caught in mud trying to leave campsites (in mitigation, a very heavy clutch with no travel makes it hard.)
I did drive up to Cape Reinga though which is a lovely drive in itself. So I've been around all of Northland now and went to see Tane Mauhta (very impressive) and the entrance by Baylys Beach (same thing again, very wet). So the little Vanette has now made it from Invercargill to the very North of the country.
This was as close as I dared get to the beach
I did drive up to Cape Reinga though which is a lovely drive in itself. So I've been around all of Northland now and went to see Tane Mauhta (very impressive) and the entrance by Baylys Beach (same thing again, very wet). So the little Vanette has now made it from Invercargill to the very North of the country.
This was as close as I dared get to the beach
I've done 90 mile beach a couple of times. I really recommend it. It's a surreal experience and something of a rite of passage. Make sure you understand the tides (check the newspaper or online). Don't go on a bad weather day. Allow plenty of time, start early. Be cautious, walk ahead if you are unsure. be careful where you stop, don't stop in running water. With caution, any vehicle can do it. Start at the Te
(north) end, so not so far to return if you change your mind. The hard bit is all at the north. Take a rope and if possible, a second vehicle. Plan for a big clean up afterwards, I experienced lots of baked-on sticky salty greenish fish-smelling sand all through the car. Some is still there 4 years later.
Here are a couple of in-car vids
heading down Te creek towards the beach http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OOcgw5msDY
further down the beach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRLrMM1pu0E
Halfway down the beach
At the creek.
view down the creek.
(north) end, so not so far to return if you change your mind. The hard bit is all at the north. Take a rope and if possible, a second vehicle. Plan for a big clean up afterwards, I experienced lots of baked-on sticky salty greenish fish-smelling sand all through the car. Some is still there 4 years later.Here are a couple of in-car vids
heading down Te
creek towards the beach http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OOcgw5msDYfurther down the beach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRLrMM1pu0E
Halfway down the beach
At the creek.
view down the creek.
epic swear filter fail
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