The change in weather conditions around the Hokianga Harbour today gave rise to a change of plans. We decided to spend the day around the harbour then head further north for our next stop. Consequently we arrived at a little settlement at the bottom of Ninety Mile Beach called Ahipara late this afternoon (location map updated). It’s 5pm, a bit cloudy but the temperature is still around 27C. Love it! We are here for the night.
We normally have breakfast onboard but we decided on a brunch this morning at the Boatshed Cafe at Rawene. It came highly recommended from friends and did not let us down. It is worth a visit if you are up this way.
On the spur of the moment we decided to catch the vehicle ferry from Rawene to Narrows. It was a 10 minutes journey and cost $40 to take the motorhome, and us, across. If we had driven around the harbour to Narrows it would have taken approximately one hour. It was a good saving on time and diesel.
The trip from Narrows to Ahipara was great. It was all back country roads but through lots of very small settlements. It gave Dearne an opportunity to fossick in local art and crafty shops on the way. She spent an extremely ‘long time’ at the Kohukohu Craft Centre on the left (payback for the fishing I think!!). Kohukohu was the most interesting place – a buzzing kauri town in the early 1900’s but now very quiet.
We are heading north tomorrow stopping in at Kaitaia to stock up on a few essentials then heading to Waipapakauri Beach for a couple of days.
If few shots of the journey can be seen HERE
Dearne and Rod's Travel Blog 
You lucky buggers doing what you are doing. Careful Hone Harawira’s mob might charge you tolls for using the “their” roads up North paid for by us the taxpayer!
You can be very sure Johnny that we will be staying well away from ‘our day of unity’
Hey Rod & Dearne,
Pen’s shown me how to get onto your blog and I have to say that your travels are rather inspiring. When are we gonna ride the bikes in Oz??
Hopefully we will be catching up with you later this year. A full discussion at the winery should sort it. Keep well Greg