Places to eat in Northland

In Opononi, opposite the wharf, you will find Webster's Cafe, set back from the road. You can stroll along the waterfront here then head in for a coffee - as we did, to break the journey down the west coast. This is the last cafe you'll come across before SH12 ends back at the Brynderwyns. Dargaville might have something, but everything always seems shut in Dargaville whenever I pass through.

On the road to Cape Reinga in January 2006, dying for a cup of coffee, we were alarmed that Kaitaia (our last major town heading north) seemed to lack a visible cafe! However, having nearly given up, we spotted the Pukenui Pacific in Pukenui on the edge of the Houhora Harbour. Upon entry, I was a little disappointed that the menu only showed 'coffee' as being available. In New Zealand, that means run-of-the-mill filter coffee... very forgetable stuff. When I told the guy at the counter that I'd have a coffee, there was a pregnant pause before he asked, 'What type of coffee?' and proceeded to rattle of ways of drinking coffee like I was some provincial! In NZ there's a bit of a joke in the provinces about the poncey coffee drinkers of the big city, but here I was, a coffee addict feeling I was in a desert and stumbling across an oasis that proved more than a mirage! I wasted no time in ordering a double-shot latte. Phew.
The servings of food are really generous here too.

Artform is a bar, gallery and restaurant rolled into one in Waipu. In January 2006, I stopped there with two friends for a light dinner and cold beer on the way back to Auckland after a day exploring the Tutukaka Coast. The service is friendly and the food is tasty and good value. I had a salmon and bacon salad with kumara 'shavings' on top. Delicious, with a generous amount of salmon!

The Mangonui Fish Shop continues the high standard of Fish and Chip restaurants in New Zealand. This one is world famous and has been voted best fish and chips in NZ in the past.
Many varieties of fish are offerred, which are all fresh and cooked while you wait.
It is possible to dine al fresco on the pier of the building.

Favorite Dish: What else but fish and chips!

The Tane Mahuta kiosk seems like it's in the middle of no-where. It's actually right beside the carpark at Tane Mahuta on State Highway 12, but it's a long way to the nearest town! The poor girls that work there in the middle of the Waipoua forest must get pretty bored when there's no customers. However, to stop themselves going crazy they write poetry and will gleefully read it to you while you munch on a hot-dog or hot chips (fries for Americans). By the way, a NZ hotdog is a battered sausage on a stick dripping with tomato sauce (yum!), but you can get an American Hotdog if you want (we add the 'American' to differentiate between the two).

Favorite Dish: A hot-dog (kiwi style).

This place gets pretty busy in the evenings because it's a stop for day coach trips to Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach.
It's in the Lonely Planet and is located on a wharf over the Mangonui Harbour. Of course you have to have fish'n'chips after a day at the beach or in the sea air.
There are also other seafood yummies available such as deliciously succulent Northland scallops, meaty mussels, and other shell fish. There's a bar as well (this isn't your typical neighbourhood fish'n'chip shop!).

Favorite Dish: Fish'n'chips of course...

The Balck sheep cafe at Sheepworld, offers meals, snacks and the usual array of fne New Zealand coffees.

Favorite Dish: Coffee and cakes

Otehei Bay Cafe serves snack and meals, also cold drinks alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

The food looks and tastes great and there nothing like a cold beer on a hot summers day sitting on the beach.