panther2: Well worth doing the Matauri Bay rd coastal road those bays are amazing and then also going to taupo bay just north of Whangaroa.

Would also recommend taking car ferry or dr to Russell some nice beaches over the hill from there. Spirits bay is well worth a detour too after seeing Cape Reinga

If anyone is near Whangaroa (just round the corner from the north end of the Matauri Bay Rd, I can highly recommend climbing St. Paul's Rock right above Whangaroa for spectacular views. It's a pretty quick climb as well. Then grab an ice cream from the store built out over the water there.