Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.butlerpoint.co.nz
;
Marant Rd, Hihi; adult/child $12/2; by appointment)
At Hihi, 15km northeast of
Mangonui, this small private museum and Victorian homestead (1843) is set in lovely gar-
dens. Its first owner, Captain Butler, left Dorset when he was 14 and at 24 was captain of
a whaling ship. He settled here in 1839, had 13 children and became a trader, farmer, ma-
gistrate and Member of Parliament.
Sleeping
There's plenty of accommodation, but most is overpriced in summer. Outside the peak
months things settle down considerably.
Puketiti Lodge
( 09-406 0369;
www.puketitilodge.co.nz
;
10 Puketiti Dr; dm/s/d $40/100/150; )
If this is what they
mean by flashpacking, bring it on. For $40 you get a comfy bunk in a spacious six-person
dorm that opens on to a large deck with awesome views, a locker big enough for the burli-
est backpack and, perhaps most surprisingly, breakfast. Turn inland at Midgley Rd, 6km
south of Mangonui village, just after the Hihi turn-off.
HOSTEL
$
Old Oak
( 09-406 1250;
www.theoldoak.co.nz
;
66 Waterfront Dr, Mangonui; d $175-275, ste $295-325; )
This atmo-
spheric 1861 kauri inn is now an elegant boutique hotel with contemporary design and
top-notch furnishings. It oozes character, not least because the building is reputedly
haunted.
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
$$
Mangonui Waterfront Apartments Motel
( 09-406 0347;
www.mangonuiwaterfront.co.nz
;
88 Waterfront Dr, Mangonui; apt $120-225; )
Sleeping
two to eight people, these historic apartments on the Mangonui waterfront have loads of
character, each one different but all with balconies, a sense of space and their own barbe-
cue. Try to book 100-year-old Tahi.
APARTMENTS
$$
Eating
There are also cafes, takeaways and stores around the other beaches.
FISH & CHIPS
$
Mangonui Fish Shop
