Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rooms have terrific sea views and there's a self-service bar with an honesty box in the
guest lounge.
Eating
Funky Fish
CAFE, BAR $$$
( 09-439 8883;
www.thefunkyfish.co.nz
;
34 Seaview Rd; lunch $14-22, dinner $22-32; 11am-
late Tue-Sun, reduced hours in winter)
Brightly decorated with murals and mosaics, this
highly popular cafe, restaurant and bar has a wonderful back garden and a wide-ranging
menu, including lots of seafood. Bookings are advisable in summer. Check its Facebook
page for occasional live music.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Dargaville
POP 4500
When a town proclaims itself the 'kumara capital of NZ' (it produces two-thirds of the
country's sweet potatoes), you should know not to expect too much. Founded in 1872 by
timber merchant Joseph Dargaville, this once-important river port thrived on the export
of kauri timber and gum. As the forests were decimated, it declined, and today is a quiet
backwater servicing the agricultural Northern Wairoa area.
Sights & Activities
Dargaville Museum
MUSEUM
(
www.dargavillemuseum.co.nz
;
adult/child $15/2; 9am-4pm)
The hilltop Dargaville Mu-
seum is more interesting than most regional museums. There's a large gumdigging dis-
play, plus maritime, Maori and musical-instrument sections and a neat model railway.
Outside, the masts of the
Rainbow Warrior
are mounted at a lookout near a
pa
site, and
there's a re-creation of a gumdiggers' camp.
Kumara Box
FARM
( 09-439 7018;
www.kumarabox.co.nz
; 503 Pouto Rd; tours $20)
To learn all about kumara,
book ahead for Kumara Ernie's show. It's surprisingly entertaining, usually involving a
journey by home-built tractor-train through the fields to 'NZ's smallest church'.
