Day 1 Wednesday 7th June - To Wenderholm

Day 1 Wednesday 7th June To Wenderholm

Wednesday 7th June 2023

Weather beautifully fine

We got up very early – about 6:00am and had breakfast and then went ahead to finish packing up. We were finally ready to leave at about 9:30.

First, we went down to Firestone tyres in Te Awamutu to get the caravan tyres pumped up – they were about 40psi and finished up at 56psi. It should run more easily and be easier on the petrol.

We got to Patty & Tom’s in Laurie Street at about 10:00am and had a cup of coffee with Tom while we waited for Patty to come back from the Counting House at the church.

We all set off at about 10:30am for Orewa along the expressway to Pokeno where we stopped for lunch in the sun at the Country Café.

We had already decided that we were going to head up the East coast to Orewa rather than up West along Highway 16 to Helensville. There had been an incident near the airport where a truck had broken down. We went at a crawl for about 15 minutes till we got passed it and then we were off again!

Initially we stopped at Waiwera to explore a parking site there, but it was pretty exposed to a fresh Easterly, so we went on to Wenderholm instead and found a beautiful spot amongst the Puhutukawas with lots of birds: Pukekos, Ducks, Fantails, one Blackbird and a lonely looking Black Back Seagull. It really was a beautiful spot and out of the wind!

We had a horrendous job trying to access the Auckland Council’s website to pay for one nights parking here - $16. It was almost impossible to register and once registered to find out how to pay. It took at least half an hour to do what should have taken 5 minutes at the most.

We had a walk down through the Pohutukawas to the beach - amazing trees! Got followed all the way by the Fantails.

Day 2 Thursday 8th June to Mangawhai

Day 2, Thursday 8th June

To Mangawhai

A beautiful morning, blue and still. The birds are amazingly tame and hungry. They come right up round your feet especially if you are eating: Ducks and Pukekos, even Blackbirds. The Fantails follow you wherever you walk and get up quite close and personal.

We went for a walk along to the end of the spit where people were fishing and back along the beach.

We set off for Mangawhai after lunch, through Kaiwaka. 

The last 16 kms of the road to Mangawhai Heads was gravel and mined with potholes. When we got there we had a beautiful view of the fairly wild surf, but decided to back to Mangawhai Village to stay in the campground there. It is right by the edge of the harbour with a beautiful view out over the water.

The view from the camp site to the harbour was beautiful

We saw a Spoonbill wading down towards us looking for food:-

- as well as a pair of White Faced Herons

Day 3 Friday 9th June - Mangawhai

 Day 3 - Friday 9th June 

Mangawhai

Woke up to a beautiful morning and had a coffee siting out and watching the tide come in.

Patty and Tom left this morning to go and visit a friend at Marsden Point. We were happy to stay here and relax.

We visited the Mangawhai Museum - which was extraordinarily good:-

It had what looked like the beginnings of a pioneer village on the opposite side:-

and out the back a covered shed with the old wreck of the "Daring" recovered from the sand after a big storm:-

Later we did a bit if shopping like petrol and whisky and came back to a relaxing afternoon at the Camp. All in all a great day by the beach.

Day 4 Saturday 10th June - To Manganese Point

 

Day 4, Saturday – 10th July

Mangawhai to Whangarei - To Manganese Point.

A beautiful morning.

While I had my morning coffee and breakfast in the cool of the morning, I watched a Spoonbill over on the other side of the harbour doing the same thing – looking for breakfast. 

There were also White Faced Herons, Oyster Catchers and Seagulls of various sorts all looking for food on the incoming tide.

Later in the morning, the Spoonbill and two White Faced Herons camp right up beside our campsite.

We set off for Whangarei this morning after tidying up and packing. There is more to Mangawhai than meets the eye. We need to go back there again and explore it more thoroughly. Sometimes hard to find road assigns and directions. We stopped at Waipu:-

... for lunch at MacLean's cafe:-

Further back was agreat mural showing the cultural history of WaiPu:-

Lang’s Beach was a beautiful spot with lots of expensive house trying to get commanding views out over the sea.

The road out through Whangarei to Manganese Point was long and windy, up and down hill, but the view and the site were well worth it when we got there. We were the only ones here for a while so got the pick of the spots. The jockey wheel got broken on the way down the driveway – second time it has happened.

Had a nice afternoon tea in the sun looking out over Whangarei Harbour. There are now two more caravans here. Patty & Tom will be here tomorrow evening.

Day 5 - Sunday 11th June - Manganese Point

 

Day 5 = Sunday 11th June

Manganese Point

Another fine day!

The sun didn’t creep over the hill behind us until about 11:00am.

We decided to go shopping this morning and went first to the Information Centre in Tarawera Road. The young man in there was really helpful so we came away with heaps of ideas. We went to PaknSave to buy some groceries and then went across Dent Street to the Hundertwasser Museum, The Art Museum and found the Serenity Café for lunch.

We then went back to the campground and waited for Patty & Tom to arrive, which they did at about 3:30pm – the campsite is nearly full,

I managed to get the gas water heater going and had a hot shower in the caravan for the first time!

Day 6 - Monday 12th June, Mangaese Point - Whangarei

 

Day 6 - Monday 12th June

Manganese Point - Whangarei

Got up to another cold morning under the shade of the hill behind us. The sun doesn’t get over it down to our caravan until about 11:00am.

After a bit of discussion we decided to pack up ready to head north, and then go into the “Riverside Hub” for a look around. Finding a parking place for the caravan in the streets close by was easier than I expected.

First, we went to find the Clockwork Balls – a fascinating display of telling the time by a mechanical system of balls in seemingly perpetual motion, with the energy being provided by a robot on a bicycle. Amazing to watch.

... and just in case you missed him here is the robot that powers it all:-

Just beside it was a huge sundial in the form of a circular paved area with a large gnomon in the middle telling the time by its shadow.

We walked down by the river with all the big private luxury yachts moored up alongside 

and full of lovely old villas, cafes, restaurants and art studios. 

We watched one man bowing glass into ornamental globes and dishes.

Just along from him was the Hundertwasser Museum, which was spectacular – wavy floors, mosaic tiling on the walls and a quirky structure.

Inside it was the Tree of Life (Sponsors)

The whole Riverside Hub was beautiful!

At about 12 noon we found our way back to the Clockwork Balls to watch it record 12:00 noon!

Just behind us was the Serenity Café where we went for lunch. The pies were really good.

Day 6 continued - 12th June - Whangarei to Whananaki - Otamure Bay

 Day 6  continued - Monday 12th June 

Whangarei to Whananaki - Otamure Bay

At about 12:30 we set off for Whananaki north of Whangarei. 

It took about an hour and a half. We were beginning to wonder if the road was ever going to end and then suddenly – there was the sea. We drove a little passed Whananaki to the DOC Camp at Otamure Bay – it was stunning! 

Right down by the sea, wide swathes of green grass to park on, lovely old Pohutukawa trees, the sea just a minute’s walk over the sand, a toilet block, cold showers and best of all a charging station for my laptop and phone battery!

We got visited by a family of ducks and their eight or so ducklings. They were so tame that they got right under our feet in their efforts to see if we had anything to eat – we had to be careful not stand on them! 

Tom wasn’t impressed because one of them did a big watery duck poo on his ground cloth outside his caravan and then later he stood on another one and walked all through his caravan!

As the sun went down, we had a great dinner of fish and egg pie, corn, coleslaw and Kumara mash, followed by steamed pudding, cream and custard – what a way to finish the day!

Day 7 - Tuesday 13th June - Whananaki DOC Camp - Otamure Bay

 

Day 7 - Tuesday 13th June

Whananaki DOC Camp - Otamure Bay

Woke up with the sun shining just behind the Pohotukawas along the beach. We had a slow morning:- getting washed, doing the dishes coffee and croissants for breakfast and coffee again with Tom & Patty.

 Later we walked along the beautiful beach with the sea breathing in and out on the sand. After lunch went along the beach, where Patty & Tom were fishing, to look for the Paul Watson walkway with no luck, but we did find a large family of Quail living in the bushes. 

I couldn’t get the shower to work this afternoon – annoying. Did my washing and then my Blog. Still a beautiful day.

Had a leisurely afternoon and a good dinner of sausages, coleslaw, mushrooms kumara mash and corn.

Day 8 - Wednesday 14th June - Whananaki and the Longest Bridge then on to Opononi

 

Day 8 – Wednesday 14th June

Whananaki to Opononi

A beautiful day again.

We packed up and left for Opononi. 

Stopped and had a coffee at the Whananaki Village shop. 

It was an easy walk from the cafe down the road to "The Longest Bridge" over the harbour:-

The view out over the estuary was sweeping:-

We saw a number of White Faced Herons and Kingfishers:-

We drove on to Kawakawa in the hope of finding a Dump Station, 

... but no luck so drove on to Kaikohe where we eventually found one just down from Kaikohe East School where I used to teach in 1969 to 1970

I had thought of finding Tautoro School and the school house where some of teachers lived in those days, but it was going to be too big a detour so we carried on to Opononi.

The Opononi Dolphin Campsite was somebody’s private house with a parking area outside, belonging to John, but we had a beautiful view of the harbour.

Day 9 - Thursday 15th June - Opononi and The Hokianga Harbour

 

Day 9 - Thursday 15th June

Opononi Dolphin Lodge and The Hokianga Harbour

Woke up this morning to a high thin cloud blocking the warmth of the sun and it was to be like that for the rest of the day. There was a chilly wind from the East as well which made being outdoors unpleasant.

After breakfast we travelled south through Omapere to the Hokianga Lookout Point that dominates the Hokianga Harbour bar. 

... and the harbour itself

This was the site of Kupe’s landing in 1150, an amazing achievement for the time. 

On a nicer day, it would have been spectacular, but on this day, the wind was keen and unpleasant. Still had amazing views back over the Hokianga. 

We drove back to Opononi and had a coffee at the Landing Thai Café. We went back to the caravan to collect some bits and pieces, and drove down to the Town Centre and parked the car where we had a view out over the sea to have our picnic lunch – too cold to sit outside.

Day 9 - Continued - Thursday 15th June - Rawene & Waione Road

 Day 9- Continued - Thursday 15th June - Rawene and Waione Road

Rawene

From there we drove out to Rawene and the Ferry landing. 

We had a little while to wait for the ferry to leave so we had a walk around the village.

Soon we could see the ferry coming in:-

At 1:00pm, the ferry loaded up with foot passengers and vehicles for the 20 minute trip to the other side. Pania of the Ferry 

... gave us a concession ticket for 10 trips for $5 that enabled all four of us to travel there and back using up eight trips and two left over. Normally it would cost us $2 a person each way, which would have amounted to $16.

On the way out we could see an impressive mural of Kupe and a ship on one of the buildings:-

... and a great view of the upper end of The Hokianga Harbour

Waione Road

On the way back to Opononi, we took a detour up the Koutu Loop Road to find some friends of Patty & Tom’s. It was a metal and dirt road and after some asking around from two old ladies who lived there we eventually found Cedric Nissen at 71 Waione Road. We were welcomed a by a pair of barking dogs and a flock of hens. Cedric invited us in. Patty and Tom were able to have a good chat about Little Waihi where they had all holidayed on occasions.

Once we were back at Opononi, we had dinner at the Opononi Hotel where there was a lovely fire and a cosy atmosphere. All in all a great day!