Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
hours), Hamilton ($25, 1½ hours), New Plymouth ($30, 2¼ hours) and Otorohanga ($20,
30 minutes).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Te Kuiti to Mokau
From Te Kuiti, SH3 runs southwest to the coast before following the rugged shoreline to
New Plymouth. Detour at Pio Pio northwest to the Mangaotaki valley and
Hairy Feet
Waitomo
( 07-877 8003;
www.hairyfeetwaitomo.co.nz
; 1411 Mangaotaki Rd, Pio Pio; adult/child
$50/25; 10am & 1pm)
, one of NZ's newest Middle Earth-themed film-location attrac-
tions. Scenes from
The Hobbit
were filmed here with a background of towering lime-
stone cliffs.
Along this scenic route the sheep stations sprout peculiar limestone formations before
giving way to lush native bush as the highway winds along the course of the Awakino
River.
The Awakino River spills into the Tasman at
Awakino
(population 60), a small settle-
ment where boats shelter in the estuary while locals find refuge at the rustic
Awakino
A little further south the impressive
Maniaroa Marae
dominates the cliff above the
highway. This important complex houses the anchor stone of the
Tainui waka
which
brought this region's original people from their Polynesian homeland. You can get a
good view of the intimidatingly carved meeting house, Te Kohaarua, from outside the
fence - don't cross into the
marae
unless someone invites you.
Five kilometres further south, as Mt Taranaki starts to emerge on the horizon, is the
village of
Mokau
(population 400). It offers a fine black-sand beach and good surfing
and fishing. From August to November the Mokau River (the second longest on the
North Island) spawns whitebait and subsequent swarms of territorial whitebaiters. The
town's interesting
Tainui Historical Society Museum
( 06-752 9072; mokaumu-
seum@vodafone.co.nz; SH3; admission by donation; 10am-4pm)
has old photographs and
artefacts from when this once-isolated outpost was a coal and lumber shipping port for
settlements along the river.
Mokau River Cruises
( 0800 665 2874;
www.mokaurivercruises.co.nz
;
adult/child $50/15)
operates a three-hour river cruise with com-
mentary onboard the historic MV
Cygnet
. Twilight cruises are also avialable.
Just north of Mokau,
Seaview Holiday Park
( 0800 478 786; seaviewhp@xtra.co.nz;
SH3; campsites from $14, d cabins/units from $65/90)
is rustic, but it's right on an expansive
