Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mitimiti
The tiny community at Mitimiti, which consists of only 30 families and not even a shop,
has the unspoilt 20km stretch of coast between the Hokianga and Whangape Harbours all
to itself. The 40km drive from Kohukohu via Panguru (14km of it unsealed) is quite an
experience: prepare to dodge cows, sheep, potholes and kids.
fers an inside perspective on Mitimiti's tight-knit Maori community, with two-hour Sand-
scapes dune-buggy tours, which head 12km along the beach to the giant dunes that form
the harbour's north head ($155), or personally tailored tours on which you can stay
overnight in the guide's house ($640 for two people).
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Motuti
It's worth taking a short detour from the road to Mitimiti to visit
St Mary's Church
(Hata
Maria;
www.hokiangapompallier.org.nz
; Motuti Rd)
, where NZ's first Catholic bishop is buried
beneath the altar. Jean Baptiste Pompallier arrived in the Hokianga in 1838, celebrating
NZ's first Mass at Totara Point. He was interred here in 2002 after an emotional 14-week
pilgrimage full of Maori ceremony brought his remains back from France.
day $36/60, stay $214)
offers
marae
tours and stays, including a traditional Maori welcome
and, on the longer tours, the opportunity to take part in flax-weaving, carving and stick
games.
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Kohukohu
POP 190
Quick, someone slap a preservation order on Kohukohu before it's too late. There can be
few places in NZ where a Victorian village full of interesting kauri buildings has been so
completely preserved with hardly a modern monstrosity to be seen. During the height of
the kauri industry it was a busy town with a sawmill, shipyard, two newspapers and
banks. These days it's a very quiet backwater on the north side of Hokianga Harbour,
4km from the Rawene car ferry (
Click here
)
. There's good eating at the local pub and on
the cosy deck of the
KB Cafaway
(cnr Beach Rd & Kohukohu Rd; mains $12-14;
noon-8pm
