Ahipara to Opononi

From Ahipara we drove through the remote countryside past Herekino and Broadwood before reaching Kohukohu on the north Hokianga. There are lots of old buildings here, though most of the town was burnt down in fires in 1952 and  1967. We stopped for coffee before getting the vehicle ferry to Rawne.

Arriving at Rawene. We drove then to a 'campground' in a paddock up a windy, narrow unsealed road, aptly named Mountain Road. There were amazing views from here and it was very peaceful.

 

South to Ahipara

Driving back down from Cape Reinga we stopped to visit Gumdiggers Park. Kauri gum was once NZ's biggest export and this area of land has many preserved  kauri logs (one is estimated to be between 100,000 and 150,000 years old), gum holes and a village of gumdiggers huts. We've been here before but that was many years ago and it was worth a re-visit.

Hut with gumboots - so named because the gum diggers used them in their watery pits. (Wellington boots are called gumboots for this reason in NZ.)

Ahipara is at the bottom end of 90 Mile Beach. We stayed in a motor camp as we wanted to use a washing machine, wifi etc.

The beach curves up '90 miles' to Cape Reinga. It's actually about 55 miles or 88km.

 

Tapotupoto Bay to Cape Reinga

We drove north and camped at Tapotupoto Bay. In the afternoon we walked to Cape Reinga along the coastal path. It's supposed to be 3 hours one way but we walked there and back in four.

Tapotupoto Bay from the first little rise

A little further up the first hill

Along the coast

The way down to Sandy Bay was via many of these flights of steps...

Sandy Bay

Looking back at Sandy Bay and the hill we'd just come down

Me about to go down to Sandy Bay

Heading up the steep slope to Cape Reinga

Made it to the lighthouse - the top of NZ. Then we headed back.

 

Mahinepua

On our way to the Karekare Peninsula we parked at Mahinepua and walked the peninsula. It was a very hot day and the walk had a lot of ups and downs but the views were amazing.

We parked overnight at Tokerau Beach...

 

Heading north

We just had a week of beautiful weather so headed north, first stop Kerikeri, where we parked at Rainbow Falls. We walked our favourite track to the Stone Store Basin, had coffee at the Honey House Cafe, then strolled up to the pa site for views.

Back at Rainbow Falls people were enjoying the usually deserted swimming hole.

We relaxed at the bus and I took some evening photos as the day cooled down.

 

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.