Rawene... And the Boatshed Cafe

From Kohukohu we got the ferry across the Hokianga Harbour to Rawene

 

And made our way in the wild wind to the Boatshed Cafe.
We had been here before so looked forward to lunch with anticipation
The cafe has changed hands...
We were totally underwhelmed with the overpriced
food and wine selection...
Even tap water was 50c a glass!
When I asked what on their menu was guten free
I was very rudely told... Eggs are gluten free...
Well I know that!
I had a smoked chicken and mango salad that was
served with crispy noodles.
I asked for no noodles and instead 2 pieces of gluten free toast.
There was no discount for no noodles and an added charge
of $2 for the toast.
I had a glass of Pinot Gris - $9 for a small glass half filled.
There was a $2 surcharge for using a credit card...
My bill was $31.
My friend, Carolyn, had a small piece of tomato and basil
tart with a small side salad... $18.50... And the same wine.


Enjoying my wine despite the price...

It's positioned on piles over the water.
With an outside deck that looks over the harbour
but it was far too windy to sit out there...
And we won't be going there again...
The pub in Kohukohu is far better...
Food, service and value.

 

It's a shame as it's a cafe with character and some art displays
I do hope they realise soon that they are not in Auckland
and those prices and the rude service are not acceptable.

Old wharves...


Old historical buildings...


The old 'Ferry House' building... We got the impression
it's being restored...


Another unusual building... The art gallery it houses was closed.
As was another new gallery/2nd hand shop.


All in all... We thought Rawene has become a rather run down
place... The only interesting thing we did was the Mangrove walk...

Kohukohu... Another Far North Small Town Treasure...

My adventures on my day exploring with my friend Carolyn...
Who lives in Kaitaia...
Started in Kohukohu...
I have been there several times before
but this time was impressed with how this little town is expanding
and becoming a very interesting place to visit.
Above is a gallery that I have been to before.
It changes the art displays often...

This end is the art gallery, not so much in it just now.

The other end has changed and been taken over by a woman
displaying and selling clothes with a difference and flair...

Carvings, trinkets of all sorts...

Jewellery, paintings, preserves... 
I offered to buy the spirit level...
I like the colour and thought it would be very useful to tell me
when I am level when parked (Haha)
But it wasn't for sale!

 
This little 'Op' shop is amazing...
Even open on a Sunday.
The man working in there is an interesting local to talk to...
He told us the proceeds this month are going to the
hospital as it's short of funds.
No trouble finding treasures for a few $$$'s in this shop.

 
The general store and ice cream shop...
And next door the little local library.
On a previous visit there was a box of free books outside.
I took some and posted them to my grandsons.


 And this is the local cafe...
It is 10 stars **********
It is part of the local pub but the manager and
'chef de excellence'
Is the lady who had the Waterfront Cafe over the road.
The owner of those premises didn't want to renew her lease...
So she moved to the pub.
It's definitely the place to eat.
I have dined there before but this trip
Carolyn wanted to go to Rawene
and the Boatshed Cafe... totally underwhelming and over priced...
But more about that tomorrow.


This little shop... In somebody's garage...
Is on the way to the ferry to Rawene.
I bought some delicious plum sauce and
a container of little cherry tomatoes...
Carolyn decided to taste their marmalade.


Even the old shoes have been made
into attractive plant holders.


And the 'locals'  who meet and greet at the ferry terminal.

Herekino Harbour... Beautiful Wilderness

I spent the weekend parked in my bus...
At my friend Carolyn's house in Kaitaia.

We went exploring to Kohuhu and Rawene... More about that tomorrow.
On the way home decided to go down a winding
gravel road... To see where it went.

On the way back to Kaitaia from Kohukohu we 
turned left at  Herekino towards Owhata...
A tiny predominantly Maori settlement
in the middle of what felt like nowhere.

It's on one side of the Herekino Harbour.



Herekino Harbour seen from Awaroa Rd just before the Herekino junction.


We got to the end of the road...
It just stopped with a notice saying road not suitable for vehicles.
We left the car... Hoping the wheels would still be on it when we got back.
There has been a big 'P' bust in this area very recently
and a lot of retaliation happening.


And walked along the deeply rutted track

And found the amazing Herekino Harbour...
On the map it's round Tauroa Point...
At the south of 90 Mile Beach and Shipwreck Bay.

 
In the distance the Tasman Sea...
And the vast stretches of the long hard west coast beach...
That continues down to theNorth and south Heads
of the Hokianga Harbour...
Then onto Baylys Beach.

On the far side in the distance the beautiful hills of the Herekino Forest.


 It was low tide so we walked a distance round the sand...
Which at high tide would all be completely covered up.


There were huge rocks in incredible formations...


I don't know how old they are or how it was all formed...


It would be very interesting to know...


No doubt sculpted by the tides...


And wind...


The harbour here was stunning glacial colours...
We wondered if there are minerals in the water that make it this colour...
Or was it just reflections from the sky on that particular day.

 
The wind has certainly shaped and defined these cliffs and trees.
It is such a beautiful place and such an unexpeced find,
we didn't want to leave.
But there was more exploring to do so onward we travelled.