Paul’s Guide to the Far North
Sightseeing
Did you really come up North to not see the Cape? A beautiful place with a lot of spiritual meaning behind it, and some of the most dramatic views in Northland.
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Cabo Reinga
Did you really come up North to not see the Cape? A beautiful place with a lot of spiritual meaning behind it, and some of the most dramatic views in Northland.
Hire a board from the locals at the bottom of the dune and spend a few hours flying down!
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Giant Sand Dunes
47 Te Paki Stream RdHire a board from the locals at the bottom of the dune and spend a few hours flying down!
Piwhane / Spirits Bay
A beautiful place to stop for lunch on a road trip to the Cape
A stunning place for a cheeky snack and swim, bring your snorkel out and have a look! Ask at Hitman Coffee for local knowledge on when the conditions are right for surfing
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Tapotupotu Beach
Tapotupotu RoadA stunning place for a cheeky snack and swim, bring your snorkel out and have a look! Ask at Hitman Coffee for local knowledge on when the conditions are right for surfing
With squeaky silica sand, Rarawa is a beautiful place to spend the day. Beautiful small surf when the wind is offshore.
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Rarawa Beach
Rarawa Beach RoadWith squeaky silica sand, Rarawa is a beautiful place to spend the day. Beautiful small surf when the wind is offshore.
A very versatile beach your family can safely snorkel down one end amongst the rock pools while other members can surf down the other. If you surf with a shorter board this would be the beach for you
Ōtaipango / Henderson Bay
A very versatile beach your family can safely snorkel down one end amongst the rock pools while other members can surf down the other. If you surf with a shorter board this would be the beach for you
This beach runs from the Bluff down to Ahipara, and is great for a walk or surfing in the right conditions. A 4WD is a must have, as is knowledge of the tides - you don’t want to get stuck with the tide coming in! If the surf isn’t right on the East Coast, you can use Ninety Mile Beach as a highway to pop down to Shipwreck Bay, Ahipara.
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Ninety Mile Beach
This beach runs from the Bluff down to Ahipara, and is great for a walk or surfing in the right conditions. A 4WD is a must have, as is knowledge of the tides - you don’t want to get stuck with the tide coming in! If the surf isn’t right on the East Coast, you can use Ninety Mile Beach as a highway to pop down to Shipwreck Bay, Ahipara.
Food scene
Houhora Honey Bees is a locally owned and operated container shop on the northern side of Houhora. It’s every locals go to for real fruit ice cream, coffee, pies and sandwiches as well as locally sourced delicious honey and seasonal produce. Hours vary depending on the season, but any early fisherperson is welcome if the lights are on.
Houhora Honey Bees
4238 Far N RdHouhora Honey Bees is a locally owned and operated container shop on the northern side of Houhora. It’s every locals go to for real fruit ice cream, coffee, pies and sandwiches as well as locally sourced delicious honey and seasonal produce. Hours vary depending on the season, but any early fisherperson is welcome if the lights are on.
Located in the Houhora Big Game & Fishing Club car park most mornings, Darren’s coffee van is a wealth of knowledge on just about every topic relevant in the Far North. A great place to join in on local gossip and to see where the best fish or waves are being caught. If you ask nicely, he makes a mean turmeric latte as well.
The Hitman
4126 Far N RdLocated in the Houhora Big Game & Fishing Club car park most mornings, Darren’s coffee van is a wealth of knowledge on just about every topic relevant in the Far North. A great place to join in on local gossip and to see where the best fish or waves are being caught. If you ask nicely, he makes a mean turmeric latte as well.
Houhora Honey Bees has your daytime needs sorted and then the Takeaways covers any dinner requirements. Located next door to Houhora Honey Bees the Scallop and Bacon burger is a must have. It’s a busy little shop so pre-ordering over the phone is essential.
Honey Bee Takeaways
4238a Far North RoadHouhora Honey Bees has your daytime needs sorted and then the Takeaways covers any dinner requirements. Located next door to Houhora Honey Bees the Scallop and Bacon burger is a must have. It’s a busy little shop so pre-ordering over the phone is essential.
The Club sits right on the water of Houhora Harbour and gives you the most spectaclular views of the water and the occasional giggle with someone trying to launch or recover their boat. The kitchen serves dinner and drinks Thursday – Saturday, but is open more over summer as demand increases. Bring everyone down to support the Club for dinner, or enjoy a nice cold one watching the water as the sun goes down.
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Houhora Big Game & Sports Fishing Club
4036 Far N RdThe Club sits right on the water of Houhora Harbour and gives you the most spectaclular views of the water and the occasional giggle with someone trying to launch or recover their boat. The kitchen serves dinner and drinks Thursday – Saturday, but is open more over summer as demand increases. Bring everyone down to support the Club for dinner, or enjoy a nice cold one watching the water as the sun goes down.
Located in the same complex as the Houhora Four Square, the Pacific provides a varied range of eat in or takeaway dinners from traditional fish and chips to pizza and Indian over the weekend. It also has a sheltered outdoor area where you can sit with a drink and watch the world go by with the locals. Keep an eye on their noticeboard, sometimes local bands feature over the summer.
Pukenui Pacific Takeaways
4 Lamb RdLocated in the same complex as the Houhora Four Square, the Pacific provides a varied range of eat in or takeaway dinners from traditional fish and chips to pizza and Indian over the weekend. It also has a sheltered outdoor area where you can sit with a drink and watch the world go by with the locals. Keep an eye on their noticeboard, sometimes local bands feature over the summer.
Steeds Butchery is the local go to for quality, fresh meat. Their beef sausages are to die for and a staple at every BBQ. Steeds is a tiny little shop located halfway between Awanui and Houhora in Waiharara. P.S You’ll want extra to take home with you.
Steed's Butchery
2288 Far N RdSteeds Butchery is the local go to for quality, fresh meat. Their beef sausages are to die for and a staple at every BBQ. Steeds is a tiny little shop located halfway between Awanui and Houhora in Waiharara. P.S You’ll want extra to take home with you.
If you are shopping in Kaitaia, the best place for produce is Bells Produce. Locally grown, value for money and insanely fresh, you’ll be familiar with their delicious mandarins stocked in most supermarkets when in season.
Bells Produce
77 North RdIf you are shopping in Kaitaia, the best place for produce is Bells Produce. Locally grown, value for money and insanely fresh, you’ll be familiar with their delicious mandarins stocked in most supermarkets when in season.
Houhora has a very well stocked Four Square, but if they do not have what you require the closest supermarket is Pak’n’Sav in Kaitaia. If you require any specialty items, it would be best to bring them with you.
Four Square Houhora
4139 Far N RdHouhora has a very well stocked Four Square, but if they do not have what you require the closest supermarket is Pak’n’Sav in Kaitaia. If you require any specialty items, it would be best to bring them with you.
City/town information
Kaitaia has most facilities, shops and takeaways, we don’t miss out on much up here!
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Kaitaia
Kaitaia has most facilities, shops and takeaways, we don’t miss out on much up here!
Fishing
Our reccomendation for both the casual and serious fisherpeople is to become a Houhora Big Game & Fishing Club Member, the yearly fee covers unlimited gate access to the wharf and you can weigh in any good catches to be included in the yearly club prize giving, as well as weekly prize draws at the Club. Club Membership can be bought online or from the Club itself and ranges from $15 for Junior Members to $90 for Senior Members. Gate fees without membership are $5 each for launch and recovery, paid in gold coins at the Gate.
The Club also hosts many competitions throughout the year, check out their Facebook page or noticeboard to see if anything is happening while you’re up.
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Houhora Big Game & Sports Fishing Club
4036 Far N RdOur reccomendation for both the casual and serious fisherpeople is to become a Houhora Big Game & Fishing Club Member, the yearly fee covers unlimited gate access to the wharf and you can weigh in any good catches to be included in the yearly club prize giving, as well as weekly prize draws at the Club. Club Membership can be bought online or from the Club itself and ranges from $15 for Junior Members to $90 for Senior Members. Gate fees without membership are $5 each for launch and recovery, paid in gold coins at the Gate.
The Club also hosts many competitions throughout the year, check out their Facebook page or noticeboard to see if anything is happening while you’re up.
The Commercial Wharf has free launching and recovery but has extremely limited parking for both vehicles trailers. This wharf is also under maintenance at the moment so access is extremely limited.
There are a range of local fishing charters available to book throughout the year. Surfcasting is also popular amongst the locals, but is only recommended if you have experience in this area. Fishing off the wharves is also popular amongst kids and those with no boats, Kingfish, Snapper and Kahawai are caught regularly.
Houhora Harbour
The Commercial Wharf has free launching and recovery but has extremely limited parking for both vehicles trailers. This wharf is also under maintenance at the moment so access is extremely limited.
There are a range of local fishing charters available to book throughout the year. Surfcasting is also popular amongst the locals, but is only recommended if you have experience in this area. Fishing off the wharves is also popular amongst kids and those with no boats, Kingfish, Snapper and Kahawai are caught regularly.
The Four Square provides basics such as bait, ice and small items, but for anything bigger Hunting and Fishing is your best bet.
Hunting & Fishing New Zealand - Kaitaia
11 N Park DrThe Four Square provides basics such as bait, ice and small items, but for anything bigger Hunting and Fishing is your best bet.
Consejos para la ciudad
Formas de ahorrar
Fresh Produce
Local fruit and produce stalls pop up seasonally throughout Northland, a pro tip is to keep a decent amount of change in your car for some fresh purchases along the way. Most of these operate under honesty boxes so exact change is required.
Cómo moverse
Gas Stations
Whilst there is a self service station at the Houhora Commercial Wharf, it can be better to hedge your bets and fill up your car in Awanui or Kaitaia on your way up North. Sometimes the demand outweighs availability, and it’s better to be prepared so you can explore the Far North worry free.
Costumbres y cultura
Eating Out in Houhora
When we say ‘eating out’ bear in mind Houhora is a small village with a great work life balance, if you’re looking for dinner after around 7:30pm you may be out of luck as places tend to close each day depending on demand.
Don’t freak out, there’s some amazing places to eat here you don’t have to cook - just be organised, it’s not Auckland.