Daytrip to Cape Reinga

Did a daytrip to Cape Reinga (reinga comes from the maori language and means underworld) today, that is the most northwestern tip of NZ, where the pacific ocean meets the Tasman Sea and an important place for the Maori. The cape with its lighthouse seem a little bit like the end of the world...

The Maoris call this place Te Rerenga Wairua, the place where the spirits of the deceased leave the earth. According to their mythology the spirits of the dead travel north until reaching Cape Reinga and descent the roots ot an 800 years old Pohutukawa tree to their traditional homeland called Hawaiki

According to mythology, the spirits of the dead travel to Cape Reinga on their journey to the afterlife to leap off the headland and climb the roots of the 800 year old tree and descend to the underworld to return to their traditional homeland of Hawaiki.

From Paihia it is aprox. 240 km drive, part of the journey can be made via 90 Mile Beach (which is actually just 67 miles long). Made a stop on the way at a sand dune and did some nice sand boarding.