Exploring the Kaipara part two

Next stop, the next day, Ruawai, where the Wairoa River meets the Kaipara Harbour. We walked a bit along the stopbank then had coffee and explored the town.

Next stop Tokatoka, a volcanic plug shaped like a perfect cone. There were 360 degree views from the summit.

This is the 'smile!' pic...

...this is me climbing up the very steep last bit with the bus down on the road.

Tokatoka in the background after we were safely back down and on the road to Dargaville.

Had lunch in Dargaville and a walk around before heading back home.

 

Exploring the Kaipara part one

We had a couple of hot sunny days free this week so headed south from Whangarei and turned onto SH12 at Brynderwyn. Our first stop was Maungaturoto where we checked out a second hand shop and had a coffee.

Then it was on to Paparoa where we walked  to the pa site on the Paparoa Walkway....

...photographer in the flax bush :-)

After our walk we had a nice lunch at the Thirsty Tui pub...

Then we turned down a peninsula and drove down to Tinopai at it's tip. We'd never been here before. It's a beautiful spot with the campground right on the waterfront.

We wandered along the beach. The pohutukawa was in full bloom. A very pretty spot.

 

Summer is here...

We arrived at the NZMCA camp in the evening and parked beside our friends Sue and Jeff in Buster.

The next morning we walked from Rainbow Falls, beside the river to the Kerikeri Basin where we got coffee at the Honey House Cafe.

Then we walked into town for lunch at our favourite cafe.

Sue forgot her hat so got one from the op shop.😀

The next day Malcolm and I headed north to Mangonui.

We parked on the waterfront at a freedom camping spot and walked into town...

to get fish and chips at the famous Mangonui cafe

Next on our agenda was Tokerau Beach on the Karikari Peninsula, where we parked at another NZMCA place.

The following day was cloudy but still hot. We looped back south...

first stop, coffee at Awanui.

At Kaitaia we visited Te Ahu, a museum and visitor centre which has a circle of carved pou (posts). Some have Maori carvings, others represent the Dalmatian (Croatian) people who were gum diggers in the area.

This ancient carving (c.1600) was in the museum.

Couldn't resist :-)

Further south, we drove through the Mangamuka Gorge, an area of dense rain forest.

The road brought us to the top of the Hokianga Harbour. We parked and had lunch at Horeke...

...before driving a little further along the road to the old Mangungu Mission Settlement...

...where there were old-style roses by te road. They had a lovely scent.

More flowers were growing in profusion outside the house.

We spent the night at our friends' place at Waimate North, waking up among the avocado trees...

...and then drove home through lovely early summer NZ scenery.