Cape Brett Trail (New Zealand)

This tour consists of a night tour with a 360° view of the Cape Brett Bay of Islands in the Northland region. It is a weekend tour.

The most satisfactory method of doing the route is to walk along the Cape Brett Trail. Another option is to take a taxi which will take you to different points along the route. The route is very well marked with signs and orange arrows which make it very easy to follow. If you don't want to do such a long route, it is possible to follow other shorter routes in the area.

Practical guide for hikers

The route is recommended for people in good physical shape, who are experienced and well equipped. If you do not wish to continue on the trail, you will need to return the same way you started. However, it is possible to use water taxis from Deep Water or Cape Brett Landing. From there you can get to Russel or Paihia for a small fee.

The start of the track is in Rawhiti and can be reached by car. It is possible to leave the car at Hartswells in Maimara Bay, at the end of Rawhiti Road. It has a large parking area which operates on a donation basis.

The route crosses Maori land, so you will need to obtain a permit to cross through Maori land. It is possible to obtain a permit in Russell.

The trail crosses a mountain ridge in the centre of the peninsula. There are several thick bushes on the sides of the trail, which at some points can be avoided and you can see all the way to the Whangerai Heads. It is possible to see some of the wildlife of the area, particularly fantails and tuis.

After a few hours' walk you reach an electric fence. When you arrive here you will have completed 1/3 of the route. These fences are set up to scare away possums and protect the trees as they damage the area. It is therefore important to keep the fence closed.

The road ends at a lighthouse. From there you can see the outer Bay of Islands, from the north of the Cavally Islands to the south of Whangaruru and also the islands of the Poor Knights.

If done at a relaxed pace, it is about an 8-hour walk. At the end of the trek there is a hut with 22 bunk beds and a cooking area with gas cookers. You can use the pots and pans provided in the hut. As this is a high fire risk area, camping is not allowed.

The path is generally very easy to follow and is very well maintained. The views from the lighthouse are spectacular and you can see the end of the peninsula. It is well worth staying to watch the sunset. The whole route has a spectacular view of the coast.

Advice for hikers

It is an uncomplicated route but you have to be prepared to walk for 8 hours. Moreover, as it is not possible to camp because of the risk of fire, it is necessary to finish the whole route in order to have a place to sleep or rest. It is therefore recommended that if you are not in very good physical shape you should not do this walk.

In the case of equipment, it is important to wear good shoes that allow you to walk all those hours comfortably. The temperature in this area is warm, so no special clothing or coats are required. However, it is advisable to bring sunglasses to protect against UV rays. It is advisable to carry a backpack where you can bring a change of clothes and some extra warm clothes.

Regarding the necessary things to be able to spend the night. Although the cabins offer some frying pans and casseroles, it is advisable to bring your own because they are not in very good condition. It is also necessary to bring the food you are going to eat during the day and the food you want to have for dinner at night. Always calculate the portions for each of the meals you want to eat. In the case of liquids, it is a very long walk and it is possible to have some fatigue. We recommend carrying a large amount of liquids, more than 3 litres, enough for the whole walk and a little more in case there are any unforeseen circumstances. The hut has a drinking tap but it has a salty taste due to the evaporation of the sea water.

Temperatures may cool down considerably at night, so it is advisable to bring a warm sleeping bag and clothes to go with it.

We recommend starting the route early in the morning so that you arrive at the hut in daylight and can make the most of the time there. The end of the track is exposed and there are strong gusts of wind, so you should walk with great caution.

We recommend travelling an hour from the lodge to Deep Water Cove where you can swim or snorkel. It can be an activity that makes our adventure even more attractive.

One negative is that the hut only has salt water.