The Karikari Peninsula is a right-angled land mass of two relatively distinct parts. The rocky northern part, which has an east-west orientation and is approximately 17 km long, was originally an island. It is connected to the rest of the Northland Region of New Zealand by a low sandy strip approximately 11 km long, which has a north-south orientation. Rangaunu Harbour is to the west and Doubtless Bay is to the southeast. The Moturoa Islands are to the north.