Hokianga Part 2

It started raining heavily and steadily about 3.00am and continued constantly until late morning so when we left the Eco Lodge there were huge puddles of water lying everywhere. We had planned to catch the hourly ferry over the Hokianga Harbour to Rawene but when we looked at the map decided instead to drive around the harbour as we wanted to go to Horeke and the distance didn't look much further to do the round trip (which it wouldn't have been if we hadn't accidentally taken the wrong road once leaving Horeke!)
Horeke itself, once known for it's boatbuilding, now consists of a nice old Pub sitting on the waters edge and obviously with beautiful views when it is a nice day. Coffee in hand, parked on the waterfront, we still enjoyed the rain and misty views out over the harbour before driving around to the Wairere Boulder Carpark where we felt we could get a pretty good idea of what it would be like to do the walk through them over the little bridges as we could see some of the boulders from the bus. Because it was raining, the entry fee was $10 each for a stroll of up to an hour although there didn't seem to be anyone manning it, and we have good imaginations we decided to drive on round to the Mangungu Mission House where 63 Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi. We couldn't go in as it is only open on Sundays over winter.

The road to nowhere!

This is where the navigator made her mistake - instead of turning back to go past the Boulders again we continued on down the waterfront road, rather enjoying the drive which ended up going up into the hills on a ridgeline with fantastic views out over the harbour to the right and the river to the left, which I did think was just a little strange as according to the map the river should have been on the right. We thought it strange that we didn't see any other cars at all apart from derelict vehicles on the roadside- an upside down car, old machinery and a caravan shell to name a few.

Then the road became steadily narrower until soon there were just two wheel tracks with grass growing in the middle! Then it was not long before we struck the end of the road and 2 gates, one leading to a house and the other into a paddock. Oh no, not again!! There was just enough room to turn the bus around again and retrace our steps - once back at the Mission House it was easy to see the mistake (I had) made but never mind - it had been quite a nice drive! The correct road through to Taheke was gravelly and rough for the first half until we suddenly reached sealed road with a middle line again.