Okaihau to Hikurangi

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 Today I’m stopped at my cousins in Okaihau, near Kaikohe & Whangarei. I still have a week or so until I need to be in Thames, so I’ve got time to rest, regroup & visit family.



A cool piece of art in Okaihau

The driving has been tough in the far north, so I want to fix & check things, to make sure all systems are good. The truck took a beating yesterday when I drove through the  Herekino Forest, as the Mangamuka Gorge was closed for upgrades, & I wanted to see Ahipara.


I also wanted to go to some of the out of the way towns, but that means going off road onto a rough gravel road, that’s poorly maintained. How sorry I feel for the locals, whose vehicles have to be tough to live in that environment. The amount of care graveyards I saw was crazy!

The Real view before I clean it😉

I really noticed the difference between the European cultures way of living & the Maori up here. I’m not sure why there’s such a difference in our ways of living, but it’s very evident. Possibly our English heritage? 🤔 

Gorgeous tree eh

I previously talked to a lovely Maori lady who was working at at the Te Waimate Mission, & she told me that the Maori don’t like to disturb the land, which I found interesting. And that works, where no introduced plant pests haven’t taken root. E. G. Wild ginger & gorse that the European brought here. No BlackBerry in the far north I noticed.



Wouldn’t want to be here when that hill blew!

Had to stop for a pic of this gorgeous church


Lovely old stores

Ohaeawai Hotel

Lovely stone walls

I love how the farmers utilise the stones lying on the farm

Seen in a park at Kawakawa

Where the bush is truly native, it was utterly beautiful! And I saw plenty of kauri, which is reported to have been dying off with a rust type disease. So many mature native trees growing right beside the road. The far north really is a must see experience.

Maltese cuddles with Tessie in Hikurangi

I stayed here for three days, which was such a blessing, for rest time from driving, (the body takes a beating too), & to see the family.

Hens & chicks. Feathers anyone? 😂 


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