DARGAVILLE

Kumara Box Show

Dargaville is known as New Zealand’s Kumara Capital, producing two thirds of New Zealand’s kumara crop and Ernie and May have been contributing to this for centuries. However it was only a few years ago that they decided to turn their kumara production into a tourist attraction and now it is a must see in Dargaville.

As always we travelled in style in Ernie’s old school car with ‘Kumara Box’ written all over it. Literally flooring it, we cruised along the highway 30km/h to the Kumara Box. I was feeling a bit hot so Ernie put the air-conditioning, in other words he wound the windscreen out. Very cool as long as you keep your mouth shut, I didn’t particularly feel like swallowing any bugs.





We finally arrived on Ernies Kumara Farm and Shed/Converted theatre. After we explored a kumara pit and were shown through the humongous shed that stores all of the Kumara, we entered a large spacious room that has been converted into a cinema. Comfy old couches and chairs face the Big Screen which screenplays a DVD of Ernie’s kumara secrets and highlights of the Kaipara region.



It was fascinating, I never knew how much workmanship goes into the production of sweet potatoes. I also never knew how many different types of kumara there is.



Ernie is such a character and May has many stories and secrets of her own that she shared with us. We had such a good time there and Ernie even showed us his prized possession- one of the largest greenstone carvings of “Pourangahua and Hokio” the Legend.





Ernie has a children’s book about the production of kumara, curing methods and the Kumara Show that him and May generously gave me. It’s a great bedtime book- he thought the novel might be to advanced for me. I just look at the pretty pictures that his daughter painted.

Tours run at 2pm Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday- Tea and lunches can be provided if requested. Admission is $15 per person and its worth every dollar!

For more information visit their website at: www.kumarabox.co.nz

Museum

The Dargaville Museum is situated in Harding Park overlooking the town, with magnificent views of Toka Toka, Maungaraho and the historic Northern Wairoa River.



Ron Haliday met us in the foyer of the museum, where the carpet has been designed to mimic the deck of a sailing ship. Filled with vast knowledge about New Zealand’s history, Ron guided us through the museum giving us detailed explanations along the way.

We walked through the impressive Kauri Gumdigger Exhibition Hall, which was built by George Sutich. Learnt about the story of the Rainbow Warrior bombing in Auckland Harbour. Visited the largest pre-European Maori canoe on Exhibition in New Zealand and observed the Collections Hall with a working model railway and village. Ron showed us the relics from shipwrecks recovered from the coast and showed us how early settlers lived and worked as they struggled to develop the land.






After our tour we browsed through the museum shop with its wide variety of quality gifts, souvenirs and books. I bought a very cool green and purple beanie, that was hand knitted by a local volunteer.

Incorporated in the museum complex is the Lighthouse Function Centre, which is an excellent venue to hire for all occasions.

For more information visit their website at: www.dargavillemuseum.co.nz

Funky Fish

It was Williever's (our wicked van) first time on a beach today! We took the wicked van down onto Ripiro beach to watch the sunset. Ripiro is the longest drivable beach in New Zealand.





Then it was time for dinner at the Funky Fish. Located in Baylys Beach, The Funky Fish Restaurant serves excellent food with very friendly service in a relaxed environment.




The restaurant has innovative international cuisine that you can enjoy inside or out. Their garden offers a private secluded area to enjoy your fish and chips or dine in the restaurant inside. They also have a bar area to enjoy a glass or two of wine before and after eating.





After dinner we had a few drinks in the bar with owner, Beth and her friend Trish. Turns out it was Trish’s birthday on the 7th of May as well. It was also the waitresses birthday on the 7th of May! If that wasn’t weird enough, I was turning 21, Lisa the waitress was turning 31 and Trish was turning 51! Very bizarre… So if you are reading this and you just turned 41 on the 7th of May let me know! We need to find the missing puzzle piece.




Baylys Beach Holiday Park

Set in Baylys Beach, about a 10 minute drive from Dargaville, this Holiday Park is the perfect place to base your holiday to Dargaville. Offering accommodation for every traveller, this holiday complex is situated only a short walk from the spectacular longest drivable beach in New Zealand.



Choose from fully self-contained cottages to budget cabins or flat grassy camp sites set amongst native coastal trees. With 60 tent and power sites, 7 cabins, and 4 fully self-contained units, Baylys Beach Holiday Park has something for everyone. Our fully-self contained unit was very spacious and comfortable. It featured an ensuite with a bath and shower, two bedrooms and a kitchen.



Park amenities include communal kitchen, dining room, shower/toilet facilities, laundry, linen hire, fenced playground, BBQ and outdoor picnic area. The park is right next to the Funky Fish and a 5 minutes walk to the beach.



The are 6 quad bikes available for hire, which are for freedom riding along Ripiro beach. You must have a valid drivers license and a credit card (for the bond) in order to hire the bikes.



Trish and her husband Mark are very friendly hosts and made our stay very comfortable. For more information please visit their website at: www.baylysbeach.co.nz

Astronomy Adventures

Astronomy Adventures (NZ) offers you an unforgettable visual adventure in the night sky. Unfortunately the weather did not permit our visit to the observatory but I have heard nothing but great things about it.

Based at Baylys Beach they offer you the opportunity to view the stars through a large computerised telescope. See craters on the Moon, the satellites of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, the phases of Venus, as well as countless star clusters, globular clusters, and galaxies. Marvel at the Milky Way, our very own Galaxy. All viewed from the superbly dark skies of their Northland location, away from both light and air pollution.

DARGAVILLE day 2- MY BIRTHDAY ☺

Birthday Breakfast

In the morning we went for breakfast at Jo’s Restaurant and Bakery with Sue and Rick Taylor from the i-site and Woodturners Studio/Gallery, Ray from Dargaville Campervan Park and Cabins, and Lynley Thomspon from Colville Estate. It was a lovely breakfast and they gave me a bottle of ‘Kumara’ vodka on behalf of Dargaville.




Lynley baked me a cake, that had happy birthday Nicquel written in icing on it. With her husband Karl she runs the Colville Estate, a self-contained bed and breakfast. They provide one queen sized bedroom and a sofa bed in the lounge room. Continental breakfast is provided, as well as complimentary tea, coffee and milk.




After breakfast Ray showed us around his complex, which is right next door to Jo’s Restaurant and Bakery. Dargaville Campervan Park and Cabins offer affordable character accommodation in the heart of Dargaville. Either stay in their railway carriages that have been converted into cabins with ensuites, or stay in a campervan/caravan with the option of having your own ensuite. The kitchen/dining area is well appointed, with a full range of utensils and has an adjacent laundry. There is also a large TV/games/recreation room.





The Woodturners Kauri Gallery and Working Studio

Rick has been woodturning for over 30 years and has a very impressive collection of Kauri products. Everything you see in the gallery has been created and produced by Rick himself. The many colours and grains found in the ancient Kauri wood featured in the turned pieces is just spectacular.



All of the pieces in the Gallery, Corporate Gift, Kauri Paper and Tool sections are available to purchase. They can also ship/post your purchases home.



After we had a wander around the Gallery and observed all of Rick’s remarkable creations, he showed us how to make a pen on the woodlathe. I watched him turn a rectangle piece of kauri into a beautiful pen. Watching Rick in action on the woodlathe, you can see the passion he feels for woodturning. It was incredible to watch and he did it all in a about 15 minutes. Every time he would carve a layer of wood off, I noticed a new shade of colour and grain.





At the end he presented me with the pen and wished me a Happy Birthday. What an amazing gift!




For more information please visit their website at: www.thewoodturnersstudio.co.nz

Kauri Museum

The Kauri Museum celebrates the heritage of New Zealand’s giant kauri trees and their related industries. The first European traders on these shores, more than 200 years ago, came to cut kauri for masts and spars. Subsequently, kauri became the basis of a vast timber industry all represented in the displays of this museum.



Our host Betty Nellie was lovely and showed us around the huge museum, providing a stimulating insight into the kauri history. She told us stories about how settlers harvest timber and gum from the giant trees, what they were used for and what life was like in early New Zealand.



We started off in Tudor Collins Wing, which showcases fine kauri furniture, lovely timber panels, carving, lace, clothing, textiles and embroidery. Then we moved on to the Ross Wing and Gum Room featuring the world’s best kauri gum display. The only word to describe their collection is WOW.





A real mill shows how logs were sawn into timber. Life-like mannequins represent local settler families and moving saws, flat belts, countershafts, pulleys and steam engines create the scene of a steam sawmill.



The tour ended in the souvenir shop where we admired beautiful quality kauri souvenirs, books, jewellery, postcards, clocks and kauri gum. Betty gave me and Amanda a square piece of Kauri to remember them by.

For more information please visit their website at: www.kauri-museum.com

Matakohe House B&B and licensed Café

An easy 1 minute walk from the Kauri Museum, Matakohe House B&B is the closest café and accommodation to the museum. The fully licensed café is open daily for morning and afternoon teas and delicious lunches. All their food is cooked on the premises, and served with a big smile. Evening meals are available; however, bookings are essential.




Matakohe House has quickly gained a reputation amongst the locals as a very pleasant place to spend time enjoying good coffee and the comfortable atmosphere. For the convenience of the travelling public, toilets (wheelchair friendly) are provided within the cafe complex. Also available to the coach crews is an area in which they can relax, read the newspaper or watch television while their passengers enjoy the varied attractions available at Matakohe.