There aren’t many places like Rawene: a small community on a promontory, with a fascinating history. Some of the buildings are on wooden piles over the Hokianga Harbour, and it is one of the first European settlements in New Zealand.

You can visit Clendon House, owned by the Historic Places Trust, once home of Captain James Clendon, first US Consul to New Zealand, and his widow Jane Takatowi.

Try the interesting Mangrove walkway, built on the site of a century-old timber mill and box factory, which was once a major business.

You can stay in the Masonic Hotel, a wonderful old pub, or at the Motor Camp/Motel, which possibly has the most beautiful outlook of such places in New Zealand. There are also comfortable homestays, some in houses with a remarkable history.

The pace of life is more gentle here than in bigger towns: but some of us are like ducks, looking placid from above but paddling hard underwater!

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