Maitai Bay is a super special anchorage with pristine twin bays.  You can find Maitai tucked on the Karikari Peninsula in Northland, far north New Zealand.

We have wanted to visit this tiny anchorage for a few years.  However, you need good weather to make it this far North.  In addition, you have to have fairly settled conditions to stay in the bay.

Sporty Passage

We left Whangaroa heading North 25nm to Maitai Bay.  We did not expect the big winds (gusts up to 38kts) and choppy seas.  It was a bash into the waves for 4.5 hours!

Not a pleasant day at all. 

However, as we neared the anchorage we were greeted by a huge flock of little black birds.

The two beaches are absurdly clean and peppered with sea shells and pebbles. 

The beautiful towering mountains shelter the beaches from the strong winds typically associated with the Northland.

Beach Walk

We decided we needed to “touch land” as soon as we set the anchor.  

It was low tide so we had a very large, beautiful beach to walk on.  

There were sections covered in pebbles and rocks and other sections covered with shells.

There is great snorkeling just beyond these rocks. 

However, the water was way too cold for us to even consider swimming here.

It is unfortunate that we were not able to spend more time in Maitai Bay. 

There are several beaches to explore and a few other hikes.

We visited Maitai Bay mid-April 2026.

Find Maitai Bay on No Foreign Land.

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