Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Information
Orewa Information Centre
(
09-426 5338;
www.orewabeach.co.nz
;
40-46 Orewa Sq;
9am-3.30pm Mon-Fri,
10am-noon Sat)
Part of the local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Getting There & Away
Direct buses run between Orewa and Albert St in the city (adult/child $10.30/6.10, 1¼
hours), as well as Shakespear Regional Park (adult/child $1.90/1.10, 50 minutes) and
Waiwera (adult/child $1.90/1.10, 10 minutes).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Waiwera
This pleasant river-mouth village has a great beach, but it's the
wai wera
(hot waters) that
people come here for. Warm mineral water bubbles up from 1500m below the surface to
fill the 19 pools of the
Waiwera Thermal Resort
( 09-427 8800;
www.waiwera.co.nz
; 21 Main Rd; adult/
child $26/15; 9am-9pm)
. There's a movie pool, 10 big slides, barbecues, private tubs ($40)
and a health spa. Luxury modern houses have also been built nearby (doubles $180); en-
quire about indulgence packages.
Squeezed between the Waiwera and Puhoi Rivers, the exquisite 134-hectare
Wenderholm
Regional Park
( 09-366 2000;
www.arc.govt.nz
; sites per adult/child $13/6, houses $120-145)
has a diverse
ecology, abundant bird life, beaches and walks (30 minutes to 2½ hours).
Couldrey House
(
www.historicouldreyhouse.co.nz
;
adult/child $5/free; 1-4pm Sat & Sun, daily Jan)
, the original homestead
dating from the 1860s, is now a museum. The campsite provides only tap water and long-
drop toilets, and the council also rents two comfortable self-contained houses.
Bus 895 from Auckland's Albert St heads to Waiwera (adult/child $10.30/6.10, one
hour) via Orewa.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Puhoi
POP 450
