Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
4km off the highway, with the falls themselves a 40-minute return walk through tree
ferns and rimu.
Cutting back 150m into cliffs, the huge, arched
Cathedral Caves
(
www.cathedralcaves.co.nz
;
adult/child $5/1)
are only accessible for two hours either side of
low tide (tide timetables are posted on the website, at the highway turn-off and at visitor
facilities). From SH92 it's 2km to the car park, then a ferny 15-minute walk down to the
beach - rather stunning in itself - and a further five minutes to the caves.
Around 6km further east, an easy forest walk leads to the dark peaty waters of
Lake
Wilkie
(20 minutes return). Bellbirds may ring. Another 1km further along the highway,
a short gravel road leads to sweeping
Tautuku Bay
, which can also be viewed from on
high at the
Florence Hill Lookout
just before the descent into Papatowai.
The must-see in
Papatowai
is the
Lost Gypsy Gallery
( 03-415 8908; SH92;
10am-5pm Thu-Tue, closed May-Sept; )
. Fashioned from remaindered bits and bobs, artist
Blair Sommerville's intricately crafted automata are wonderfully irreverent. The bam-
boozling collection in the bus (free entry) is a teaser for the carnival of creations through
the gate ($5 entry, children under 12 not allowed). The buzz, bong and bright lights of
the organ are bound to tickle your ribs. Espresso caravan and wi-fi on site.
Papatowai has a couple of short walks, a picnic spot at the mouth of the Tahakopa
River, a handful of accommodation options and a general store selling petrol.
Sleeping
SLOPE POINT
Slope Point Backpackers
HOSTEL $
( 03-246 8420;
www.slopepoint.co.nz
;
164 Slope Point Rd; sites per person from $12, dm $22-27,
d $47, unit $87; )
This rural property has modern dorms and rooms, along with a
great-value self-contained unit. There are grassy tent pitches and gravel sites for camper-
vans, and the owners' children are always keen to show off the working farm. Board
games, puzzles and loads of magazines take the place of TV.
CURIO BAY
Curio Bay Holiday Park
HOLIDAY PARK $
( 03-246 8897; valwhyte@hotmail.com; 601 Curio Bay Rd; sites unpowered/powered 2 people
$20/30)
Tucked into an outcrop between Curio and Porpoise Bays, within easy walking
distance to both, this camp offers private campsites hidden in a sea of tall flax. It's a truly
