Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Eating
Old Mill Cafe
(
www.theoldmillcafe.co.nz
;
1 The Esplanade; mains $12-33; 8am-4pm daily, from 5.30pm Fri & Sat)
Zooshed
up with bright-pink feature walls and elegant verandah furniture, Old Mill Cafe serves in-
teresting cafe fare as well as dinner on Friday and Saturday. There's sometimes live music
on Friday nights too.
CAFE
$
CAFE
$$
Manaia Kitchen & Bar
( 07-864 9050; 228 Main Rd; breakfast $11-17, lunch $17-24, dinner $24-33; 8.30am-late)
With courtyard
seating for lazy summer brunches and a burnished-copper bar to prop yourself up on later
in the night, Manaia is the most cosmopolitan spot on the Tairua strip. New owners have
revitalised the place, and interesting menu options now include a scallop tortilla and
prawn naan pizza.
Information
Tairua Information Centre
(
07-864 7575;
www.tairua.info
; 223 Main Rd;
9am-5pm)
Getting There & Around
InterCity, Tairua Bus Company and Go Kiwi all run bus services to Tairua.
Tairua and Pauanui are connected by a
passenger ferry
( 027-497 0316; one-way/return $3/5;
daily Dec-Jan)
, which departs every two hours from 9am to 5pm (until 11pm in January). In
other months the ferry offers a water-taxi service.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Puketui Valley
Located 12km south of Tairua is the turn-off to Puketui Valley and the historic
Broken Hills
gold-mine workings
, which are 8km from the main road along a mainly gravel road. There are
short walks up to the sites of stamper batteries, but the best hike is through the 500m-long
Collins Drive mine tunnel
. After the tunnel, keep an eye out for the short 'lookout' side trail
which affords panoramic views. It takes about three hours return; remember to take a
torch and a jacket with you.
