Travel
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@bones back in the day the poor man's alternative to Wapoua from BoI (or Kaeo where we lived as kids) was Puketi, near Kerikeri.
Still pretty spectacular trees, if no Tane Mahuta, but proximity.
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Erm, anybody done the fly to Cape Reinga trip from Paihia?
I want to drive but kids are not interested in 6 hours in a car (I don’t blame them after the 26 hour flight) so this maybe only option.
Bit baller and not far off 2k for the family, but anybody done it and can offer thoughts?
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@MajorRage or fly to Kaitaia and go from there?
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@mariner4life said in Travel:
I swept the 5 leaves off my patio (okay used the leaf blower) so we yeah we good
Still a fair whack of water around and a few fallen trees but otherwise she's apples
Airport should be lovely and green once the water runs off. 😬
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@MajorRage said in Travel:
@canefan I’m in Paihia. So it’s 2:40 each way.
I’m really torn. I’ve dropped 1k gbp on stupid things before and that’s what this is ….
Just don’t want it be a complete lemon ….
It's a long drive. The reason why I've not done it with my kids yet
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@MajorRage said in Travel:
@canefan I’m in Paihia. So it’s 2:40 each way.
I’m really torn. I’ve dropped 1k gbp on stupid things before and that’s what this is ….
Just don’t want it be a complete lemon ….
It's a long drive. The reason why I've not done it with my kids yet
Pfft hahaha
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@mariner4life said in Travel:
@MajorRage said in Travel:
@canefan I’m in Paihia. So it’s 2:40 each way.
I’m really torn. I’ve dropped 1k gbp on stupid things before and that’s what this is ….
Just don’t want it be a complete lemon ….
It's a long drive. The reason why I've not done it with my kids yet
Pfft hahaha
It's all relative muthafucka 😉. Quite a drive to go from Paihia to CR, look around, then come back. We considered staying in Kaitaia overnight. I heard it's a bit of a hole
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@mariner4life said in Travel:
I swept the 5 leaves off my patio (okay used the leaf blower) so we yeah we good
Still a fair whack of water around and a few fallen trees but otherwise she's apples
Airport should be lovely and green once the water runs off. 😬
That looks familiar....
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@MajorRage Can you stay somewhere near Cape Reinga over night on the way back? My recollection of a 2020 trip from Paihia to Cape Reinga was that stopping for lunch and a walk, half way there, made for an easy trip up, but after spending the day exploring the area, the trip back was pretty tiring. There is a lot of scenery to take in, so it's a nice drive. You will want to explore though.
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@MajorRage said in Travel:
Erm, anybody done the fly to Cape Reinga trip from Paihia?
I want to drive but kids are not interested in 6 hours in a car (I don’t blame them after the 26 hour flight) so this maybe only option.
Bit baller and not far off 2k for the family, but anybody done it and can offer thoughts?
Paihia to the Cape 6 hours?
Oh, you talking return?
You doing bus?
Bus goes off road on beach, and I suspect stopping at places along the way.
Not sure if Kauri Kingdom still going (stuff made from Kauri dug from swamp in Awanui), and the gumdigger site in the Kaimaumau swamp is quite good.
Plenty to see through Coopers Beach/Cable Bay/Taipa.
Used to be quite a good museum at Houhora (but think that's died 😞 ).
But the trip is not completely boring.
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@MajorRage Can you stay somewhere near Cape Reinga over night on the way back? My recollection of a 2020 trip from Paihia to Cape Reinga was that stopping for lunch and a walk, half way there, made for an easy trip up, but after spending the day exploring the area, the trip back was pretty tiring. There is a lot of scenery to take in, so it's a nice drive. You will want to explore though.
I think it's Kaitaia or a few little spots around there Tim
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@mariner4life said in Travel:
@MajorRage said in Travel:
@canefan I’m in Paihia. So it’s 2:40 each way.
I’m really torn. I’ve dropped 1k gbp on stupid things before and that’s what this is ….
Just don’t want it be a complete lemon ….
It's a long drive. The reason why I've not done it with my kids yet
Pfft hahaha
It's all relative muthafucka 😉. Quite a drive to go from Paihia to CR, look around, then come back. We considered staying in Kaitaia overnight. I heard it's a bit of a hole
Wouldn't be wrong.
Coopers Beach, Taipa, Mangonui all options.
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Four of us stayed at a great place down by the beach at Cable Bay in 2018. An extra 30 mins or so past Kaitaia after you go to the Cape but well worth it.
Golden Sand Beachfront Accommodation
Absolute Beachfront Accommodation at Cable Bay, near Coopers Beach, Northland. Choose from 2 bedroom cottages or luxury honeymoon suites.
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I was in Russell last weekend. Awesome place whereas I think Paihia is an over-rated shit hole but different strokes...
BoI to Cape Reinga and back in a day is do-able but a bit of a ball buster and the roads are not in a good state at the moment. Plenty of good places to stay in Doubtless Bay /Mangonui area.
Personally I would give Tanemahuta a miss as if you have to choose between west and east coasts there is so much more to see on the East. If you do decide on the west coast route stop at Trounson Kauri Park not far from Tane. No one tree as magnificent as the old fella but a much more extensive stand of mature Kauri (15-20) in a beautiful setting. Nowhere near as crowded and an easy 30 minute loop.
Depending on your budget a helicopter flight over the Bay of Islands (up Cape Brett to Hole in the Rock and back over Urupukupuku Robertson's Island etc ) is a great experience and you'll see everything in 40 minutes rather than half a day.
sage at Paroa Bay is a fabulous vineyard restaurant with views over the Bay of Islands. The coastal route back to Whangarei is well worth taking but will add at least a couple of hours
Went to the Hundterwasser Museum at Whangarei Town Basin yesterday - well worth a stop for a peek and a bite to eat.
Northland is a gem
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