Puhoi Pub

The Puhoi Pub is the ride destination north of Auckland: a colonial timber hotel overlooking Puhoi village that has held a licence since 1879, in a settlement founded by Bohemian families in 1863. Riders have had first claim on the parking out front for decades, with secure parking around the back by the rooms, and classic cars and hot rods turn up in numbers on a fine weekend. It is a destination in itself rather than a meet venue: people cruise up to it, and no regular gathering is advertised.

Inside, every surface is the exhibit. Bank notes from around the world, most of them signed, cover the walls and ceilings alongside photos, flags, coasters and notes left by a century of drinkers, and the dining hall carries portraits of local iwi chiefs. The kitchen does breakfast until 2pm, headed by the Puhoi big breakfast at NZ$29.50, then burgers, pizzas, salads and platters with most mains between NZ$22 and NZ$39, a NZ$13.50 kids menu for 12 years and under, and the pub's own lager, ale and light on tap at NZ$10 a pint.

The garden bar and its BBQ look over the stream, which is where the bikes get watched and the afternoon disappears. Seven rooms upstairs turn it into an overnight ride stop.

Pull up out front, take a seat in the garden bar, and order at the bar; it gets busy on weekends.

• Known as a biker pub first: the front parking is kept for bikes, secure parking is at the rear, and classics and hot rods are welcome.
• Walls and ceilings of signed bank notes, photos, flags and mementos, plus iwi chief portraits in the dining hall.
• Breakfast until 2pm, the Puhoi big breakfast NZ$29.50; burgers, pizzas, salads and platters, most mains NZ$22 to NZ$39; kids menu NZ$13.50; vegetarian options.
• House beers on tap, Puhoi Pub Lager, Ale and Light, NZ$10 a pint; Heineken, Asahi, Tuatara Hazy and Guinness alongside.
• Garden bar with a BBQ and outdoor seating over the stream and bush.
• Seven rooms upstairs: queen or king NZ$160, king single NZ$95, basin in the room and shared bathrooms.
• Weekend gatherings and what is on are posted on the pub's Facebook page, facebook.com/puhoipub.

Best way to experience it: ride up the old coast road through Orewa rather than the motorway, arrive before the 2pm breakfast cut off, and stay the night if the garden bar wins.

• Opens 11am Monday to Thursday and 10am Friday to Sunday; closing and kitchen hours are not published, so phone 09 422 0812 before a late arrival.
• Rooms have a basin only; bathrooms are shared, men's and women's.
• Weekends are busy; groups should call ahead.
• The pub's Facebook page is the live channel for events and gatherings.
• Puhoi is off State Highway 1 north of Orewa; the village is small and walkable from the pub.

Last updated: 7 September 2026