From the south:
1. Auckland - Whangarei (2 hrs. approximately) A good place for a quick stop is the information centre on your left as you enter Whangarei. It has bathrooms, a cafe and picnic area. If you have more time, head for the Town Basin. This area has shops, restaurants and plenty of place to walk around.
2. Get back on to SH1 heading north towards Cape Reinga. Be sure to turn left into Kawakawa. Bathroom stop at the Hundertwasser Toilets?
3. Continue on through Kawakawa and Moerewa. At Pakaraka Junction on State Highway 1, take the turn off to the right for Doubtless Bay. You will drive through the Kerikeri area, Waipapa, and Kaeo.
4. Shortly after Kaeo, you will first pass Sandford's seafood plant on your left, a great place to stop for a good deal on oysters, and then "Janit's Texas Diner", a good stop for hungry meat eaters! (The Texas Diner is open October - June.) A little further on, you will come to a junction where there is a one-way bridge to your left. You will be crossing that bridge (when you come to it, of course. Sorry... couldn't resist!) You MUST stop and give way to all other traffic coming on to or turning off the bridge. You are about 30km from Mangonui at this point.
5. As you get closer, you will see the village across the harbour. Take the first turn off for Mangonui which will bring you on to Waterfront Road. Drive through Mangonui Village, past the wharf, (where the road now becomes Beach Road) past the "world-famous" Mangonui Fish and Chip shop, past the Police Station, and through Mary Hassett street. We will be just another 50m along on your left: a two storey white building with a big beautiful garden out front and unique blue sign by the roadside. We'll be waiting for you!
From the north:
1. At the Awanui T-junction, take SH10 sign-posted for Doubtless Bay and Bay of Islands. Continue on for 25-30 minutes approximately.
2. You will pass by Cable Bay, and then Coopers Beach (shopping centre on your left; Coopers Beach itself is accessed from the car park immediately after the bridge). Continue on past the fire station and take the next left on to Beach Road. Mill Bay Suites Motel will be about 200m along on your right.
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