Nothland: Dargaville?

tripp · backpackerboard regular Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 31

Has anyone stayed in Dargaville? is it any good or could you suggest a better place to stay in that area?

KiwiKat · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 12:18 am Post subject:

Dargaville is a relatively small town - there are only 17,000 people in the whole district, which runs from Kaiwaka in the South up to Waipoua forest and halfway across to Whangarei....What do you want to go to Dargaville for? ie are you going to see something specific or are you just passing through?

If you can, see if you can do a trip through via Opononi/Omapere (northern side of Waipoua forest) - that way you can see Tane Mahuta (largest living Kauri in NZ), going boarding on the sand-dunes (based out of Opononi), visit the Otamatea Settlers Museum (aka the Kauri or Matakohe Museum), south of Dargaville - there are a couple of museums at Dargaville, but I have never been to them....

There is at least one backpacker place in Dargaville, but unless you have something specific that you are going there for, I don't think I would bother staying there - it's nicer to stay somewhere like Omapere or Opononi instead.

If you can let me know what you are in the area to do, I can probably offer some better ideas!
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Kat

Save the Earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.

Magic Bus · experienced boarder Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 94

If you are planning on staying in Dargaville and are able to get around there are some little hidden gems. First of all you should visit the Kai Iwi Lakes which are great for swimming, water skiing and trout fishing. The next thing to do is to head to the coast (Baylys Beach), it is a beautiful rugged west coast beach that can be good for swimming and really good for fishing. If you are into hiking the there is a great walk up Mt Tutamoe that has amazing views on a clear day as far north as Cape Reinga and as far south as Mt Taranaki. There are also numerous short walks in the Waipoua Kauri Forest.

I personally recommend you spend a couple of days there. I grew up in the fabulous little town.
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chrischall · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 2:37 pm Post subject:

nothing like a bit of home pride beers

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Chris

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KiwiKat · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 9:25 pm Post subject:

lol - it's the biggest town in the area I grew up in....I grew up just out of Maungaturoto, which is the first place you get to when you turn off to Dargaville from State Highway 1 heading North....I guess I should have clarfied a bit more- are you hitch-hiking, taking the bus or will you have your own transport?

It can be difficult to get around due to the extremely limited public transport available in the district.
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Kat

Save the Earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.

tripp · backpackerboard regular Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 31

thanks for your replies Very Happy

My partner thought it would be the best place to stay to see all the surrounding places of interest, but it doesn't sound that interesting to me, that's why i asked! We'll be in Northland for about a week, and we'll have our own hire car. I think we'll be staying a night in Omapere too.
Also we have BBH cards and would prefere to stick with those hostels, has anyone stayed in any that they can recommend in that area?

Cheers
Tiff

northhokiangatrekking · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 12:21 am Post subject: backpackers

On the other side of the harbour after you take the ferry from rawene there is The Treehouse, which belongs to the bbh. Here on our farm in Broadwood we also offer backpacker accomodation at $40 per person all meals included. Over towards Dargaville but closer to Kai Iwi Lakes there is a backpackers based also on a farm but i am having trouble remembering the name, although I have heard good things about them I have never been there. I will post again if I find out what they are called

Magic Bus · experienced boarder Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 94

The place you are thinking of is called Kaihu farmstay. Many of our travellers have gotten of the coach to stay at this farm and have raved about it when we picked them up again.
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