Hokianga & Kauri Coast Heritage buildings As the third oldest European settlement in New Zealand, Rāwene has both coastal and historic charm. Highlights include Clendon House, the Masonic Hotel, Methodist Church and courthouse, all built in the 19th century. Boatshed Café Grab a bite on the deck at this water-fronting café. Easily one of the best views in the borough. Clendon House Built in the 1860s for Captain James Reddy Clendon, a ship owner, trader and witness to the Treaty of Waitangi. Left widowed in 1872, a penniless Jane Clendon found herself with eight children and huge debt but she kept everything together until her death in 1919.
Kohukohu
RĀwene
Area
Ōpononi & Ōmāpere
HŌreke
KaihŪ Kohukohu Dargaville
The Wedge This wonderfully
puzzle and game shop.
bright early-to-mid-century heritage building won the 2016 Resene Commercial Exterior Award, thanks to its external splendour. Upstairs houses OH! Studio, a fashion store, while downstairs is the Simply Fun
Simply FUN A must-see
Koutu Boulders, Ōpononi © Adobe Stock
Ho k i anga
Boatshed Café, Rāwene © NorthlandNZ BELOW: No.1 Parnell, Rāwene © David Kirkland
destination for any puzzle addict. Half shop and half museum, it’s run by passionate puzzlers. This one will captivate within seconds and see you leaving many hours later.
RĀwene
Matakohe pononi & 10-minute drive from Ōmāpere, Ō f o s l r l d there are large rock We pools big enough to bathe in. Ōmāpere of the Waimamaku Beach Road, a
Opo the dolphin
KaihŪ
In the 1950s, this slinky-finned chap was a local hero, often giving the kids a free ride on his back. A statue now stands in his honour in Ōpononi.
Ōpononi Beach Takeaways
Dargaville
Matakohe Ōpononi Sand Dunes Sitting on the northern side of the Hokianga Harbour. There are two ways to reach the dunes; boat is most popular (and if you book with Hokianga Express Charters, the
52
driver loans his boogie boards for free) and you can also drive 15km along the beach from Mitimiti.
Manea Footprints of Kupe Cultural Centre A knockout experience detailing the story
of Kupe’s arrival in New Zealand via 75 minutes of multi-sensory splendour. Enjoy live performance and narration, 4D films, art, taonga and digital wizardry.
Wellsford
Rock Pool Swimming At the end
Outrageously good fish, chips and toasties, made even better by the sea-meets-dune views.
Koutu Boulders The North Island’s answer to Otago’s Moeraki Boulders, these giant, round behemoths are equally mesmerising and at 10 foot – even bigger! Three minutes from Ōpononi.
Waiotemarama Waterfall Walk Follow the Waiotemarama Stream for 15 minutes to a tranquil, threetiered waterfall. For a longer walk, continue along the forested Loop Track for two-and-a-half hours.
PAGE 9 - REGIONAL MAP
