When you are thinking of new destinations to visit, it’s a good idea to consider the places where the locals experience a great quality of life. By understanding this kind of culture, you could be inspired to find a new way of living that is less stressful and filled with pleasurable moments. Recently, The Economist named New Zealand as the 7th best country to be born in, and with just a few days spent in the Northland, it becomes easy to appreciate why. If you have 5 days to experience the subtropical north of New Zealand, the following activities provide a great way of immersing yourself in the local culture without feeling exhausted.

Experience farm life in Kaeo. A trip to Kaeo is a fantastic way of experiencing authentic small town life in Kaeo. If you feel burdened by work responsibilities and other commitments, all of those worries will seem insignificant when you adjust to life in this small town that plays host to fewer than 500 residents. The best way to spend a leisurely day in this area is to visit one of the local farms in the town. The friendly farm owners warmly welcome visitors, and you may experience activities such as milking a cow or picking local fruits from the trees. If you have only tasted store bought fruit in the past, you will be astounded at the difference in the taste of freshly picked fruit, straight from the tree in Kaeo.

Camping at Maitai Bay. One way to completely disconnect from life’s troubles and simply engage with your surroundings is to enjoy a simple night of outdoors camping. In Northland, there are ample camping opportunities, and the DOC camp at Maitai Bay is one of the most spectacular camping spots in the region. This camping experience is simple and uncomplicated, but you can always treat yourself to one of the renowned pizzas at the KariKari Estate, a nearby vineyard, if you don’t feel like cooking beans over a portable stove. At Maitai Bay, you will be camping on fine white sand and listening to waves lap on to the shore as you drift into a peaceful sleep.

Discover local cheeses at Mahoe Cheese Factory. To truly understand the local culture, you need to immerse yourself in the flavours of local produce. New Zealand is one of the greatest cheese producers in the world, and at Mahoe Cheese Factory, you can try cheese that is created from cows that live on the farm. As well as tasting a range of Mahoe Cheese Factory’s delicious local cheeses, the farm owner would be happy to talk through the farm’s unique maturing techniques that produce some of the finest artisanal cheeses in all of New Zealand.

Sip on Grappa at the Cottle Hill Winery. For wine lovers, the Northlands of New Zealand is pure paradise. As well as producing delicious wines, Mike Webb, the owner of Cottle Hill Winery, has developed a grappa that is a hit with both locals and tourists who pass through the winery.

With 5 days in Northland, it is possible to take in all of the natural beauty of this area, to meet local business owners such as Mike Webb of the Cottle Hill Winery, to taste some of the finest local produce, and to understand just why New Zealand is such a fantastic place to live and to visit.

Written by David Miah for

Wooree Outdoors — www.wooree.co.nz