Horeke

Horeke is a small isolated town on the shores of the Hokianga Harbour, in the North Island of New Zealand.

Understand
Horeke is the oldest European settlement in the Hokianga and the second oldest European settlement in New Zealand. It was very primitive early on and people lived in very simple dwellings.

Horeke was first called "Deptford", then it was renamed "The Horeke', meaning "The Throwing of a Spear". Now it is just called Horeke. It was the first centre of timber trading in the Hokianga followed by Kohukohu.

By car
From State Highway 1 (SH 1), turn into Rangiahua Road in Rangiahua, and follow the signs south-west for 10 km on a sealed road.

From State Highway 12 (SH 12) in Taheke (between Kaikohe and Waima Valley), turn into Taheke Road and drive north. There is a 9 km unsealed section of road between Taheke and Horeke.

Get around
Drive to the Wairere Boulders, about 4 km away. You can walk to the Mangungu Mission House on the unsealed road along the shore of the harbour.

See


Horeke has interesting places you can see in a short stroll.
 * Plaque marking the first commercial ship-building yard. In the middle of town, see where the first ships were built in New Zealand.
 * Buildings on stilts over the harbour. View buildings erected over the water due to shortage of land for purchase.
 * First New Zealand execution. Get informed and look at Ruapapaka Island where the first legal execution in New Zealand took place in 1838.

Buy
There are no shops.

Drink
You can buy a beer in the pub and have a chat with the locals.

Go next
From Horeke you can explore the rest of the Hokianga.


 * Koutu Boulders &mdash; biggest concretions in the world
 * Sand dunes &mdash; fantastic sandstone sculptures on top of dune opposite Opononi
 * Omahuta Kauri Sanctuary near Mangamuka Bridge
 * Kohukohu - historic town, drive to SH 1 and turn north towards Kaitaia, then in Mangamuka Bridge turn left and follow road signs to Kohukohu (60 km)
 * Waima Valley
 * Bay of Islands – towns of Kerikeri and Paihia. Drive to State Highway 1 and then turn right towards Okaihau, drive to Kerikeri is 45 min, to Paihia 60 min.
 * Bay of Islands – towns of Kerikeri and Paihia. Drive to State Highway 1 and then turn right towards Okaihau, drive to Kerikeri is 45 min, to Paihia 60 min.