About
Cape Brett Walkways near Rawhiti in Northland offer some of the Bay of Islands' most rewarding coastal tramping, with dramatic cliffside views and native bush that feel worlds away from the tourist crowds. The standout feature is Cavalli Island and the sweeping vistas across the northern coastline—on clear days you can see all the way to the Poor Knights Islands. These walkways are famous among locals for combining accessible short strolls with more challenging multi-hour tramps, making them genuinely versatile for different fitness levels and time budgets.
Expect stunning, rugged coastal scenery with native forest, hidden beaches, and those iconic Bay of Islands panoramas. Most visitors tackle the main loop in 3–4 hours, though you can do shorter sections in 45 minutes if you're time-poor. The tracks are well-formed and clearly marked, suit families with school-age kids and solo walkers equally, and really shine on clear, dry days. Bring water, a good map or download offline tracks, and allow extra time if the ground's wet—these slopes can be slippery. The experience is peaceful rather than crowded, even in peak season, which is part of the appeal.
Cape Brett sits perfectly into a Bay of Islands loop, especially if you're combining it with Rawhiti village, the Hole in the Rock cruise, or Waitangi. Best visited September to April when weather's more reliable, though locals know June–August can deliver stunning clear winter days. It's about 45 minutes from Paihia, making it an ideal half-day adventure that doesn't demand a full commitment to remote tramping.
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