Cyndi and Rich aboard Legacy
Jan. 30, 2013
As we made our way to the west coast, we stopped near the town of Opononi for coffee and to look at the dunes across the harbor.
We had tried to make a reservation at neighboring town Omapere’s Copthorne hotel, but they were booked. Finding no last-minute cancellations, we decided we’d drive back to Opua after seeing the Kauri trees. It would be a long day, but we could be back before dark. This meant no lingering in Opononi, but there wasn’t much to see there anyway. –Cyndi
January 30, 2013
Hokianga Harbor’s greatest claim to fame is the giant sand dunes near the coast on its north side. The best place to view these dunes is across the harbor, near the towns of Opononi and Omapere. I thought the dunes in Te Paki were big, but these were massive.
While they’re more remote than the Ninety Mile Beach dunes, it is possible to get to them, and they are perfect for a dune buggy, sand board or ATV. –Cyndi
January 30, 2013
We disembarked from our ferry in the town officially known as Rawene, but they seem to prefer calling themselves Hokianga. Our mission: to find the cafe our friend Lou had enjoyed and recommended.
The Boatshed Cafe matched the description we’d been given; so we found parking and headed in. I expected simple, basic food in a small town like this; so it was a surprise to see lots of gourmet goodies on their menu. We had cappuccinos and shared a plate with warmed Camembert, tepenade, avocado, and fresh-baked bread to spread everything on. It was unbelievably good. I would list this unassuming little cafe as one of our top New Zealand restaurant finds! -Cyndi
January 30, 2013
We ended up at a cafe in Kohukohu, a tiny river town just a couple of miles up the road from the Narrows ferry terminal. We were very excited about getting coffee drinks and a muffin until we found the power was out, which meant no cappuccinos. We still got to enjoy the muffin, though.
Giving up on the coffee when the power still didn’t come back, we headed to the ferry terminal. Talk about perfect timing! The ferry was about to pull away and had one spot left. We drove up at a good clip and got waved on. The boat was moving before we were parked. We got out and enjoyed the views along the way. –Cyndi
January 30, 2013
As long as we were on the west coast, we decided to head south and see two more “must do’s”: Hokianga Harbor and below that, the Kauri Coast with its giant kauri trees.
We would drive about an hour south and catch the ferry that crosses Hokianga Harbor, a large natural harbor and waterway that extends nearly 20 miles inland from the west coast. The 15 minute crossing would take us to the town of Rawene before heading another hour or so beyond that to the Waipoua Forest.
We had been advised by the proprietor of our motel that our chosen route was “just farmland” with “nothing to see,” and that we should travel a route we’d already done. We didn’t listen and were so glad as the drive was pretty spectacular, winding through beautiful green hills strewn with wildflowers. Below, some pictures from our “ugly” drive. –Cyndi
