Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(see 21)
(see 21)
(see 29)
Entertainment
(see 18)
Shopping
C4
B3
(see 21)
B4
TOP OF CHAPTER
Wairoa to Napier
The small town of
Wairoa
(population 7900) is trying hard to shirk its rough-edged rep. Not
scintillating enough to warrant an extended stay, the town has a couple of points of in-
terest, including an exceptional (and exceptionally early-opening) pie shop called
Oslers
(
06-838 8299; 116 Marine Pde; pies $3.50-4.50, meals $7-15; 4.30am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, 6am-3pm Sat & Sun)
.
Nonconsumable attractions include the plaque-studded
River Walkway
, the
Wairoa Museum
(
06-838 3108;
www.wairoamuseum.org.nz
; 142 Marine Pde; 10am-4pm Tue-Fri,to noon Sat)
inside an
old bank, and a couple of motels if you're caught short. The
Wairoa i-SITE
( 06-838 7440;
www.visitwairoa.co.nz
;
cnr SH2 & Queen St; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat & Sun)
is the spot for local
info, including advice on Lake Waikaremoana.
The stretch of highway between Wairoa and Napier traipses through unphotogenic
farmland and forestry blocks for much of its 117km. Most of it follows a railway line, cur-
rently only used for freight - you'll realise what a travesty this is when you pass under the
Mohaka viaduct
(1937), the highest rail viaduct in Australasia (97m).
Occupied by early Maori,
Lake Tutira
has walkways and a bird sanctuary. At Tutira vil-
lage, just north of the lake, Pohokura Rd leads to the wonderful
Boundary Stream Scenic
Reserve
, a major conservation area. Three loop tracks start from the road, ranging in length
