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Whangarei is just three hours north of Auckland. On the your way north you can visit:
- Waiwera pools
- Helensville (on the western route to Wellsford) - Grand Hotel, antique stores, South Kaipara
- Mangawhai - East Coast beach, north of Wellsford, nice garden centre with cafe.
- Maungaturoto - old hotel, Nikau Grove, Four Square store.
- Paparoa - small village with a bed-and-breakfast in the old post office (i.e., Old Post Office B&B) and the sheriff's jail, antique store, and Hospitality Lodge. Kauri Bushmen's Reserve. Four Square store. A&P show in the summer.
- Pahi - small settlement on peninsula, 100 year-old hotel, old meeting house, pier, campground, camp store. Annual Pahi Regatta is over 110 year's old (beginning of January), includes boat and raft races and Miss Pahi competition.
- Matakohe - Kauri Museum, old post office, historic church, Coates Memorial Church.
- Dargaville - 2-3 old hotels, Maritime Museum, antique and craft stores. Annual Kumara Festival (with Kumara King & Queen).
- West Coast beaches, including Bailey's Beach.
- Waipu Forest - largest remaining kauri forest, 45 minutes north of Dargaville.
- Whangarei - charming pedestrian zone, colonial harbour-side shopping, some antique stores.
- East Coast beaches - north of Whangerei, including Ngunguru and Matapouri Bay.
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