Day 3: Cable Bay, Karikari Peninsula, Matai Bay, drive to Pukenui.

See Day 1 of our road trip here and Day 2 here.

We left Kerikeri, stopping at the supermarket for picnic lunch food, heading up to our accommodation in Pukenui.  We stopped briefly at Cable Bay to stretch our legs.  I would have been happy to sit all day at this beach with it’s beautiful golden sand and rockpools to explore.

We continued on our way turning right onto the Karikari Peninsula, driving all the way to the end of the peninsula arriving at Matai Bay.  This is a lovely calm beach with very gentle waves and beautiful crystal clear water, just perfect for swimming .  There are rock pools to explore too. You will need to bring your own food as there’s nowhere to purchase anything.  We took a picnic lunch.
There are public toilets and showers to rinse off the salt water next to the DoC camping ground.

We arrived at our motel in Pukenui (Pukenui Lodge Motel) around 5pm and made use of the lovely pool before popping across the road to the well stocked 4 Square supermarket to buy ingredients for dinner (steak and salad making use of the impeccably clean bbq available at the motel).  The motel is basic but had everything we needed and was very clean.  The rates are very reasonable and the hosts are friendly and helpful.  The motel has a fabulous view over the Houhora Harbour.