We provide Dargaville accommodation for single travellers, couples, families and groups at affordable prices.
The Northern Wairoa Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner with a Sunday Roast Buffet available.
Dargaville is 2 hours’ drive north of Auckland, and 1.5 hours’ drive from Waipoua Forest.
Hotel Rooms & Amenities
Enjoy the ambience, comfort and superb hospitality that The Northern Wairoa Hotel has on offer.
All of our Deluxe Suites and Family Suites contain Air Conditioning and Bathroom facilities. For all our other rooms there is communal toilets and showers available. Communal Kitchen is stocked with tea coffee sugar milk. Please tidy up after yourself when using the communal facilities
We charge affordable prices, so it’s a great place to break up your trip round the beautiful north of New Zealand.
- We have 29 rooms in total – 14 rooms with facilities and 15 non-facility rooms
- Air-Con and heat pumps in all facility rooms
- Shared kitchen facilities available
- Shared lounge available
- Check out 10am.
Facilities
- Complimentary Parking
- Free WiFi
Dargaville Restaurant
The Northern Wairoa Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, serving a wide range of delicious meals for all the family at affordable prices. Plus we have take-out meals.
- Advanced bookings are required
- Bar meals are also available
- Catering available for group functions
- Seating for up to 100 people
- OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK: Lunch – available from 12am to 3.00pm | Dinner from 5pm to 8.30pm
Sunday Roast Buffet – $45 Special. Roast Beef or Pork, Sides & Dessert.
About Us
The Northern Wairoa Hotel has been an important part of the Dargaville township for over a century.
Built as a grand design in 1878, the hotel was part of Irish-born Joseph McMullen’s aspirations to create an attractive township, and to make a fortune in the process.
The hotel has a Category 2 Historic Place listing with Heritage New Zealand. Over the years there have been several renovations and rebuilds, but many of the original features have been retained.
The Northern Wairoa Hotel is still an important part of the township, with its sports bar, comfortable private bar, restaurant, and accommodation and 18 Gaming Machines
Local Attractions
Kai iwi Lakes – The stunning Kai iwi Lakes are one of New Zealands best holiday spots to stay and play in. Nestled within the Taharoa Domain and only 35kms from Dargaville. The lake sits amongst 538 hectares of premiere recreation reserve with white sand, freshwater dune lakes that are renowned for their jewel like beauty and clear waters. Perfect for a wonderfull camping experience with the choice of two campgrounds located on the lake foreshore, both offering an ideal camping experience for tents, caravans, or motorhomes.
Baylys Beach – Ten minutes’ drive from Dargaville, Baylys Beach, is a small seaside community of colourful baches, seaside cottages, fresh sea breezes – and the local fish and chip shop “Sharkys”. This sleepy holiday haven is the perfect spot to see the starry splendour of the southern skies and the full glory of the Milky Way as the skies here are naturally dark and the air is pure with the breeze from the Tasman sea, so the stars shine like diamonds in black velvet. Popular activities at this location include, 4wd driving. It is safest to drive down the beach two hours before and after low tide, when the sand is hard, and to avoid being stranded when the tide comes in. 4WD vehicles are recommended and standard rules of the road apply.
Ripiro Beach – Baylys Beach is the gateway to Ripiro Beach, New Zealand’s longest driveable beach. This 100km long beach is backed by high, golden sand dunes and is the site of many shipwrecks, including a three-masted, 36-gun French man o’war. Many of the salvaged shipwreck relics are now on display in the Dargaville Museum and a commemoration plaque has been erected as a lookout on the road down to Bay
Waipoua Forest (Tane Mahuta) – Waipoua forest is home to the ancient Kauri tree, Tane Mahuta. This short 5 minute walk leads you under cooling shade of the forest canopy to the majestic T?ne Mahuta, New Zealand’s largest living kauri tree. Not far into the walk, a sweeping corner of the track suddenly brings you face to face with the ‘Lord of the Forest’. When you catch your first breath-taking view of this magnificent tree, you’ll feel compelled to pause for a while. You can almost feel Tane Mahuta’s strength and ancient presence, and its overwhelming size makes visitors look like dwarfs. There is a wooden fence and a seat to view the tree. To get a broader view of Tane Mahuta, you can move further along the track, which then leads to another viewing platform.
Trounson Park – By day or night, the Trouson Kauri Park is a wonderful place! Take the 40-minutes Trounson Kauri Loop Track to see stands of giant kauri. At night, the forest comes alive with glowworms, kiwi birds, eels in the streams and more! What’s more, there’s a serviced Department of Conservation campground at the park. Location: 40km (25 miles) north of Dargaville just State Highway off State Highway 2. Trounson Park Road.
Toka Toka Peak – This unusually shaped mountain just begs to be climbed! Tokatoka Peak is the plug of an ancient volcano and only takes about 20 minutes to walk up. Be prepared for a steep and sharp climb to some reward 360 views of Dargaville, Kaipara and beyond! Location: 17km (10.5 miles) south of Dargaville off State Highway 12. Tokatoka Road.
Kauri Museum – Dargaville has no lack of museums. One of the most popular is the Kauri Museum! The Kauri Museum tells the story of pioneers of the kauri forest industry and how they forested the largest trees in New Zealand. There are lots to uncover in the multiple wings and basements of this huge museum. See working machinery, step inside a life-size pioneer house, and so much more! Learn more about guided tours of the Kauri Museum on Viator and Tripadvisor. Location: 45km (28 miles) south of Dargaville just off State Highway 12. On Church Road.
Dargaville Museum – Another fantastic museum in the Dargaville area is right in the town itself! The Dargaville Museum showcases marine relics, such as an old Maori waka (canoe), as well as mannequin displays telling stories of the early Kauri gum diggers. The surrounding park is also packed with things to see, from pa sites to awesome views. Location: Harding Park.
Dargaville Art Galleries – There are plenty of places to see local art in Dargaville! See a real mix of paintings at the Big River Art Gallery. The Muddy Waters Art Gallery is another fantastic option. A must is The Woodturner’s Kauri Gallery & Working Studio to see art made out of kauri wood. Location: Big River Art Gallery – State Highway 12, Muddy Waters Art Gallery – Parenga Street, and Kauri Gallery – Murdoch Street.
Golf – The Northern Wairoa Golf Course is an affordable and visitor-friendly 18-hole golf course. With sea views and tree-lined fairways, this is certainly a great place to play golf. Golf club hire is available from the nearby motor camp. For more golfing inspiration, take a look at 21 Best Golf Courses in New Zealand. Location: 12km (7 miles) west of Dargaville down Bayleys Coast Road.
