Horeke is a tiny rural hamlet at the northeast end of Hokianga Harbour, where the Waihou River enters the harbour. This part of the harbour has tidal mud flats with mangroves, but it is picturesque with the tide in and a calm day. The modesty of the location also belies an astonishing history.
Horeke was initially named Deptford after a Royal Navy shipyard in England. It was settled in 1826 by David Ramsay and Gordon Browne of Sydney. They established a trading post and shipbuilding facility, probably due to the surrounding kauri forests of the time. Three ships were built - the 40-ton schooner, Enterprise, the 140-ton brigantine, New Zealander, and the 394-ton barque, Sir George Murray, before bankruptcy in 1830.
However, the Hokianga timber industry continued with Thomas McDonnell's station in Horeke at the centre in the 1830s. In addition, the oldest hotel in NZ is the Horeke Hotel. This dates back to 1833, although the buildings are later dated. The Wesleyan Missionary Society (WMS) also selected Horeke as their second mission station in NZ in 1828. Mangungu Mission is a beautiful and historic location about 2 km southwest of the hotel on Horeke Road.
Eventually, the kauri in the surrounding hills ran out, and the timber mills disappeared. Farming appeared in the surrounding hills, but the countryside is very rugged and is now mostly exotic pine plantations or native forest regrowth, with a scattering of farmland.
Horeke is also a location for viewing the basalt rock laid down by Northland volcanic activity from 2 to 20 million years ago. These rocks covered a large part of Northland and formed a high plateau around Lake Omapere, a primary crater. Eroded and exposed fluted rock formations can be seen nearby at Wairere Boulders and Wairere Heights as part of an overnight farm stay. Both are accessible on Horeke Road after it veers south from the harbour.
Horeke is on Horeke Road. You can take a slower scenic drive from Okaihau along this road or a faster route on State Highway 1 with a turnoff onto Rangiahua Road. Rangiahua connects with Horeke Road near the coast. Horeke is also on the Twin Coast Cycle Trail.
