Marlin Hotel, Whangaroa

Situated on the Whangaroa Harbour, this old hotel is in another great scenic spot.  After climbing St Paul's Rock and admiring the amazing view from the top, we stopped at the hotel for lunch.
Visit date: 24 November 2015

Mangonui Hotel, Mangonui

Built in 1905, this hotel is one two remaining hotels in the bay. Once a busy harbour for whaling ships, it is now a quiet picturesque town. Many old buildings remain in the bay and can be explored by following the Mangonui Heritage Trail.
Visit date: 24 November 2015

Central Hotel, Dargaville

As the Commercial is a B&B, we ate at another historic hotel, also opposite the Wairoa River. The Central Hotel was built in 1876, and also has new owners who have started the exciting task of restoring this wonderful reminder of a bygone era. We enjoyed the best burgers we have had in years.
Visit date: 22 November 2015

Commercial Hotel, Dargaville

Having started our trip at the southern end of the Kaipara Harbour, our accommodation that night was at the northern end. The Commercial Hotel was built by John Logan Campbell in the 1880's, when Dargaville was a busy port during the kauri timber days.
It is now a very pleasant B&B, where the new owners are busy restoring this grand building. Our room had the beautiful kauri floor looking like new.
Visit date: 22 November 2015

The Grand Hotel, Helensville

We started our Northland tour at the southern end of the Kaipara Harbour, so lunch had to be at the remaining hotel of the era when this was a busy port. The original wooden building from 1876 burnt down twice (deliberately according to our friendly bar staff) and today's concrete building dates from the 1930's.

Visit date 22 November 2015

National Hotel, Cambridge

Cambridge is a striking old town, worth exploring on foot. While passing through, we took time out to walk around and admire the old buildings. The National Hotel was an excellent choice for lunch, we would highly recommend their delicious and well presented food.
Built in 1912, after fire destroyed the original wooden hotel. It has undergone extensive renovation in recent years.
Visit date: 2 September 2015

Grand Hotel, Te Aroha

Te Aroha is a delightful small town. The heritage buildings date back to the discovery of gold in 1880 and when the gold ran out, it was developed as a spa town. By 1886, there were seven bath houses - initially Te Aroha attracted more visitors than Rotorua or Hamner Springs.

But like the gold, visitor numbers dwindled as Rotorua took over as the main spa town. What remains today is a small quiet town with a good number of beautiful old buildings.

One of these is the Grand Hotel, built in 1880, when gold was discovered in the Wairongomai Valley. Although the gold soon ran out, the hotel survived due to it's location near the hot springs. Today it is well worth a lunch stop, the food was excellent value. Visit date: 22 August 2015