Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 09-405 7728; 8 Clendon Esplanade; mains $10-20; 8.30am-4pm)
Eat overlooking the water at this
cafe, a cute place with excellent food and a gift shop that sells local art and crafts. The
cafe sometimes opens for dinner at the weekend.
Getting There & Away
There are no regular bus services to Rawene. A
car ferry
( 09-405 2602; car/campervan/motorcycle
$20/40/5, passenger $2; 7.30am-8pm)
heads to the northern side of the Hokianga, docking 4km
south of Kohukohu at least hourly. You can buy your ticket for this 15-minute ride on
board. It usually leaves Rawene on the half-hour and the north Kohukohu side on the
hour.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Opononi & Omapere
POP 480
These tranquil settlements near the south head of Hokianga Harbour run into one another.
The water's much clearer here and good for swimming, and views are dominated by the
mountainous sand dunes across the water at North Head. If you're approaching Omapere
from the south, the view of the harbour is nothing short of spectacular.
Activities
Hokianga Express
( 021 405 872;
www.hokiangaexpress.webs.com
;
adult/child $25/15; from 10am)
A boat departs from
Opononi Jetty and takes you across the harbour to the large golden sand dunes, where you
can sandboard down a 30m slope and skim over the water. Boats leave on the hour. Book-
ings essential.
SANDBOARDING
Jim Taranaki's Bone Carving Studio
( 09-405 8061;
hokiangabonecarvingstudio@gmail.com
;
15 Akiha St, Omapere; $60)
Create your own
Maori-inspired bone carving in a studio with ocean views.
BONE CARVING
Arai te Uru Heritage Walk
WALKING
