The cape is known for its iconic lighthouse, which stands as a sentinel over the meeting of these two great bodies of water. Surrounding Cape Reinga are numerous picturesque bays, including Spirits Bay, Tapotupotu Bay, and Sandy Bay, each offering pristine beaches, clear waters, and opportunities for swimming, fishing, and reflection. The area is sacred to the Māori people, who believe that Cape Reinga is the departure point for spirits on their journey to the ancestral homeland of Hawaiki.

Nearby, Ninety Mile Beach, known traditionally as Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē, is where the spirits of the deceased travel on their journey to Cape Reinga. Their journey continues to the ancient pohutukawa tree at Cape Reinga, which is over 800 years old, and is the place where spirits leap into the ocean to begin their journey home. The tree clings to the cliffs above the tumultuous waters, symbolizing the threshold between the physical world and the spiritual realm. The name "Reinga" itself means "underworld" in Māori, reflecting its role in Māori cosmology.

The region is also part of the Te Paki Recreation Reserve, which encompasses vast sand dunes, wetlands, and coastal forests. 

We embarked on a two-day hiking journey from Cape Reinga to the Giant Sand Dunes near Ninety Mile Beach. Along the way, we explored the wild beaches of Te Werahi, Paengarēhia / Twilight, and Kahokawa, all teeming with seabird life.