Introducing Hokianga
The Hokianga Harbour stretches out its skinny tentacles to become the fourth- biggest in the country. Its ruggedly beautiful landscape is painted in every shade of green and brown. The water itself is rendered the colour of ginger ale from the bush streams that feed it.
Advertisement
Of all the remote parts of Northland, this is the pocket that feels the most removed from the mainstream. Pretension has no place here. Isolated, predominantly Maori communities nestle around the harbour’s many inlets as they have done for centuries. Discovered by legendary explorer Kupe, it’s been settled by Ngapuhi since the 14th century. Hippies settled in the late 1960s and their legacy is a thriving little artistic scene.
Many of the roads remain unsealed and in poor repair after decades of neglect from government bodies. Tourism dollars are channelled eastward to the Bay of Islands, leaving this truly fascinating corner of the country remarkably undeveloped, which is the way many of the locals like it.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
RE: Dreaming of an small eco cabin-place in Australia
by westwood 03 August 2011
If you want some idea of coastal prices, have a look at the prices houses are going for in KohuKohu. Its a small country town situated…
-
Re: Advice on NZ
by robsifter 30 July 2011
If you want to see some beautiful beaches then I would recommend the far north and the east coast of the north island. Not a glacier or…
-
RE: Bay of Islands with kids
by bruce1210 25 July 2011
Api: Centre of BOI is Paihia and it is pleasant and on the water. Tons of boat trips from there, and take a ferry across to Russell (15…
In our shop
Bags feeling light?
Coffee table looking bare?
Get your guidebooks, travel goods, even individual chapters, right here.
Hotels & Hostels
Check out all our reviewed and recommended accommodation and book online.
Advertisement
