Bay of Islands & Northland - New Zealand - page 166

At Helena Bay an unsealed detour leads 8km to Mimiwhangata Coastal Park , which
features sand dunes, pohutukawa trees, jutting headlands and picturesque beaches. DOC-
managed accommodation includes a simple but comfortable cottage, and a beach house
($613 per week), both of which sleep seven to eight people. Basic camping (per adult/
child $10/5) is available at secluded Waikahoa Bay.
Back on Russell Rd, you'll find the Farm ( 09-433 6894; www.thefarm.co.nz ; 3632 Rus-
sell Rd; sites from $13, dm/s/d $20/30/80) , a rough-and-ready backpackers that rambles
through various buildings, including an old woolshed fitted out with a mirror ball. The
rooms are basic, and the Farm is popular with trail bikers during the summer holidays;
off season it's a chilled-out rustic escape. On offer are horse treks (1½ hours, $50) or mo-
torbike rides (one hour $60) through the 1000-acre working farm.
At an intersection shortly after the Farm, Russell Rd branches off to the left for an un-
sealed, winding section traversing the Ngaiotonga Scenic Reserve . Unless you're plan-
ning to explore the forest (there are two short walks: the 20-minute Kauri Grove Nature
Walk and the 10-minute Twin Bole Kauri Walk ), you're better off veering right onto the
sealed Rawhiti Rd.
After 2.6km, a side road leads to the Whangaruru North Head Scenic Reserve ,
which has beaches, walking tracks and fine scenery. A loop route from DOC's Puriri Bay
Campsite ( 09-433 6160; www.doc.govt.nz ; sites per adult/child $10/5) leads up to a ridge,
offering a remarkable coastal panorama.
If you want to head directly to Russell, continue along Rawhiti Rd for another 7km be-
fore veering left onto Manawaora Rd, which skirts a succession of tiny idyllic bays be-
fore reconnecting with Russell Rd.
Otherwise take a detour to isolated Rawhiti , a small Ngapuhi settlement where life still
revolves around the marae (meeting house). Rawhiti is the starting point for the tramp to
Cape Brett, a tiring eight-hour, 16.3km walk to the top of the peninsula, where overnight
stays are possible in DOC's Cape Brett Hut (dm $15) . The hut must be booked in ad-
vance. An access fee is charged for crossing private land (adult/child $30/15), which you
can pay at the Paihia i-SITE ( Click here ) . Another option is to take a water taxi to Cape
Brett lighthouse from Russell or Paihia and walk back.
A shorter one-hour walk leads through Maori land and the Whangamumu Scenic
Reserve to Whangamumu Harbour . There are more than 40 ancient Maori sites on the
peninsula and the remains of an unusual whaling station.