Tu Tika Tours is a tour operator at 92 Otaika Road, Raumanga, Whangārei, with a website at tutikatours.co.nz. A good tour operator is really a storyteller with a van: the value lies in a guide who knows which headland catches the morning light, which waterfalls are worth the walk, and how the coastal weather is likely to turn by afternoon. When comparing operators, it pays to ask about group size, what the fare actually includes, and how flexible the itinerary is if the skies close in. Regulars book early for summer, when Northland's coast draws crowds, and often favour smaller local outfits over the big coaches for exactly that local knowledge. From its base in Raumanga, Tu Tika Tours is handy to the harbour, walks and coast that make Northland worth exploring.