Major city · New Zealand
Rawene
Stay one night in Rawene, not two: Clendon House, the mangrove boardwalk and the ferry crossing fill a half-day, and the harbour is the point.
Rawene is a small Hokianga Harbour settlement on a peninsula, the third-oldest European settlement in New Zealand, with a population of about 500. There is one historic house, one boardwalk, one ferry and a handful of places to eat. It works as a quiet one-night stop on the Hokianga loop between Opononi and Kohukohu, not as a base for a week.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- NZD
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- avoid Jun–Aug (wet, cold, some sights closed midweek)
- Airports
- AKL · KKE · WRE
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- New Zealand ↗Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA (with the tourism levy) before travel, including many transit passengers; others need a visa. Apply only through Immigration New Zealand or its official app, and check the rules for your passport.
- New Zealand ↗Declare all food, plant and animal products, and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents, on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; undeclared risk items bring instant fines.
- New Zealand ↗Drive on the left; give way as signed at one-lane bridges; an English-language licence or one with an approved translation or International Driving Permit is required.
- New Zealand ↗Freedom camping is restricted: sleep in a vehicle only where signed as allowed, and in many places only in certified self-contained vehicles.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Rawene111 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Rawene, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD, NZ$).New Zealand-wide
- SIM or eSIMOne NZ, Spark and 2degrees sell tourist SIMs at Auckland and Christchurch arrivals and in supermarkets; passport not required.New Zealand-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe almost everywhere; follow boil-water notices in small rural schemes.New Zealand-wide
- TippingCafé or restaurant: Nothing expected; 10% for very good service at dinner is a bonus.New Zealand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.New Zealand-wide
- SafetyRawene is a quiet, low-crime village and feels safe on foot in daylight.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets in every town and at most lookouts; DOC long-drops on tracks.New Zealand-wide
- Emergency numbers111 police, fire, ambulance · 105 Non-urgent police · *555 Traffic (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day morning and Christmas Day by law; small-town shops close by 17:00 and on Sunday afternoons…Shops closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day morning and Christmas Day by law; small-town shops close by 5:00 PM and on Sunday afternoons…New Zealand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportAKL Auckland Airport (About 3 h 30 min drive north via SH1 and SH12; the nearest international gateway.).
- Getting aroundRawene is small enough to walk: the centre, Clendon House, the boardwalk and the ferry landing are all within about 10 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeNZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5)
- BeerBeer at a barNZ$8–12 (≈ US$5–8)
- Budget bedHoliday park campsite (per person), a night, per personNZ$25 (≈ US$15)
- Mid-range bedMotel or boutique double room, a night, per roomNZ$200 (≈ US$120)
- High-end bedMotel or boutique double room, a night, per roomNZ$320 (≈ US$190)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget NZ$80 (≈ US$50) · Mid NZ$150 (≈ US$90) · High NZ$260 (≈ US$160)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- AKL Auckland Airport (About 3 h 30 min drive north via SH1 and SH12; the nearest international gateway.) · KKE Kerikeri (Bay of Islands) Airport (About 1 h 15 min drive; domestic flights from Auckland.) · WRE Whangarei Airport (About 1 h 45 min drive; small domestic field.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Feb
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Mar
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Apr
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
May
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jun
Avoid
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Jul
Avoid
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Aug
Avoid
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Sep
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Oct
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Nov
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Dec
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jul (8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C) low), wettest Jul (17 rain days), driest Jan (9). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Rawene: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
9 rd
Feb
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9 rd
Mar
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
11 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
12 rd
May
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
14 rd
Jun
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
16 rd
Jul
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
17 rd
Aug
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
16 rd
Sep
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
14 rd
Oct
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
13 rd
Nov
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
11 rd
Dec
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Rawene is small enough to walk: the centre, Clendon House, the boardwalk and the ferry landing are all within about 10 minutes on foot. You need a car or the ferry for anything beyond the village. The vehicle ferry to Kohukohu runs roughly hourly in each direction, with extra early-morning sailings and a shuttle at peak times; check the operator's timetable before you plan around it.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Kohukohu
goDoor to door: About 15 min crossing plus waiting
Hokianga vehicle ferry from the Rawene landing
The short hop across the harbour; check the timetable and the fare on board.
Opononi
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Drive west on SH12
Harbour views and the sand dunes across the water.
Koutu
goDoor to door: About 35 min
Drive west past Opononi
Boulders and a quiet coast; pair it with Opononi.
Horeke
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive around the harbour via SH12 and Kohukohu, or ferry then drive
Historic mission site; the road around the harbour is slow.
Mangamuka Bridge
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Drive east on SH1 from the Rawene Road junction
A road stop on the way to the Bay of Islands, not a destination on its own.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Rawene village centre
Clendon Esplanade and Parnell Street: walk to the house, boardwalk, café and ferry landing.
Rawene Holiday Park (Marmon Street West)
Tents to cabins, about 1 km (0.6 mi) south of the centre; the budget option.Tents to cabins, about 0.6 mi (1 km) south of the centre; the budget option.
Above the ferry landing
Boutique rooms with harbour decks; book ahead in summer.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- NZ$80–130 (≈ US$50–80) excl. bed
- Mid
- NZ$130–220 (≈ US$80–130) excl. bed
- High
- NZ$220 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or boutique double room1 × 1 night × NZ$200 | NZ$200 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × NZ$150 | NZ$300 |
| Hokianga vehicle ferry, car and driver, one way1 × NZ$30 · check | NZ$30 |
| Fish and chips takeaway, one person2 × NZ$15 | NZ$30 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × NZ$25 | NZ$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | NZ$61 |
| Trip total≈ NZ$336 per person per day, bed included | NZ$671≈ US$400 |
2026 estimate in New Zealand dollars; fuel and ferry fares excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | NZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Fish and chips takeaway | NZ$12–20 (≈ US$8–12) |
| Café lunch | NZ$15–25 (≈ US$9–15) |
| Beer at a bar | NZ$8–12 (≈ US$5–8) |
| Petrol, per litre | NZ$2.50–3.00 (≈ US$2) |
| Hokianga vehicle ferry, car and driver, one way | about NZ$30 (≈ US$18) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Hokianga ferry is a vehicle ferry with a limited timetable: check sailings before you commit to a crossing.
- Clendon House opens only on limited days (roughly Nov–Apr weekends, May–Oct Sundays, plus summer and Easter): check before you drive in.
- Fuel, groceries and pharmacy are in the village but limited: fill up and stock up before heading further up the harbour.
- Cell coverage and card payment can be patchy outside the village: carry some cash.
- The beach beyond the Boatshed is tidal: check the tide before swimming or launching a boat.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 111
- Non-urgent police
- 105
- Traffic
- *555
Pocket card
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RaweneRawene
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ki tēnei wāhi, koaTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance111
- Non-urgent police105
- Traffic*555
Embassy
No embassies in Rawene; nearest consulates in Auckland, embassies in Wellington.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Hokianga ferry, Rawene → Kohukohu, car and driver: about NZ$30 (≈ US$18) one way (check)
- Hokianga ferry, foot passenger: about NZ$10 (≈ US$6) one way (check)
- Rawene → Opononi by car: about 30 min, no toll
Say or show
- Kia ora — Hello / Kia ora (kee-ah or-ah)
- Ngā mihi — Thank you (ngah mee-hee)
- He aha te utu? — How much is it? (heh ah-hah teh oo-too)
- Kei hea te waka? — Where is the ferry? (kay heh-ah teh wah-kah)
Māori phrases here are a courtesy; English is spoken everywhere.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Rawene. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr · avoid Jun–Aug (wet, cold, some sights closed midweek) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Ferry timetable and fare fixture for the Hokianga crossing, with a taxi and drive-around fallback.
- Clendon House opening-day fixture so the limited-hours warning is accurate.
- Walking cluster: Clendon House, boardwalk, ferry landing, Boatshed, village centre.
- Tide and weather fixture for the beach and boat ramp.
Sources
- officialNorthland Ferries — Hokianga ferry timetable
- officialClendon House
- officialRawene Holiday Park
- secondaryWikivoyage: Rawene, revision 4873239 (CC BY-SA 4.0)