Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EAST CAPE
The slow-paced East Cape is a unique and special corner of NZ. It's a quiet place, where
everyone seems to know everyone, their community ties built on rural enterprise and a
shared passion for the ocean. Horseback riding, tractors on the beach, fresh fish for dinner
- it's all part of daily life here.
Inland, the wild Raukumara Range forms the Cape's jagged spine. Near the edge of the
sea, the 323km Pacific Coast Hwy (SH35) runs from Opotiki to Gisborne. Lonely shores
lie strewn with driftwood, while picture-postcard sandy bays lure just a handful of visitors.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Pacific Coast Highway
The long and winding road around the North Island's easternmost point has long been a rite
of road-trip passage for New Zealanders. And if you like scenic drives and don't mind at-
tractions that are few and far between, you'll likely find the journey intrepid and captivat-
ing.
If you're short on time, head for Gisborne via SH2 from Opotiki - a 144km alternative
via the
Waioeka Gorge
and the two- to three-hour walk leading off from the historic
Tauranga
Bridge
. The route takes about 2½ hours to drive, although you could easily make a day of it.
Both routes are covered in the excellent
Pacific Coast Highway Guide,
available at Gis-
borne and Opotiki i-SITEs. Set off with a full petrol tank, and stock up on snacks and gro-
ceries - shops and petrol stations are in short supply. Sleeping and eating options are pretty
spread out: we've listed them in the order you'll find them, heading east from Opotiki.
Opotiki to Te Kaha
The first leg offers hazy views across to Whakaari (White Island), a chain-smoking active
volcano. The desolate beaches at
Torere
,
Hawai
and
Omaio
are steeply shelved and littered
with flotsam. Check out the magnificent
whakairo
(carving) on the Torere school gateway.
Hawai marks the boundary of the Whanau-a-Apanui tribe whose
rohe
(traditional land) ex-
tends to Cape Runaway.
