Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP OF CHAPTER
Gisborne to Hawke's Bay
From Gisborne, heading south towards Napier you're confronted with a choice: follow
SH2, which runs closer to the coast, or take SH36 inland via Tiniroto. Either way you'll
end up in Wairoa.
The coastal route is a marginally better choice, being quicker and offering occasional
views out to sea. However, SH36 (
Tiniroto Road
) is also a pleasant drive (or bike
route) with several good stopping points along the way.
Doneraille Park
, 49km from
Gisborne, is a peaceful bush reserve with a frigid river to jump into and freedom camp-
ing for self-contained vehicles (
Click here
)
. Tree lovers might like to check out
Hack-
falls Arboretum
( 06-863 7083;
www.hackfalls.org.nz
;
187 Berry Rd, Tiniroto; adult/child $10/
free; 9am-5pm)
, a 3km detour from the turn-off at the Tiniroto Tavern. The snow-
white cascades of
Te Reinga Falls
, 12km further south, are well worth a stop.
The busier SH2 route heads inland and soon enters the
Wharerata State Forest
(be-
ware of logging trucks). Just out of the woods, 55km from Gisborne,
Morere Hot
Springs
( 06-837 8856;
www.morerehotsprings.co.nz
; SH2, Morere; adult/child $10/5;
10am-5pm, extended hours Dec-Feb)
burble up from a fault line in the
Morere Springs
Scenic Reserve
. Have a dip, or tackle a bush walk (20 minutes to three hours) before
taking the plunge. The main pool is near the entrance, or a five-minute walk through vir-
gin rainforest leads to the Nikau Pools.
Also at Morere is the
Morere Tearooms & Camping Ground
( 06-837 8792;
www.morereaccommodation.co.nz
; SH2, Morere; campsites from $17, d $60-90)
, where you can
get a respectable toasted sandwich and avail yourself of lovely campsites and basic cab-
ins alongside the babbling Tunanui Stream. Just over the stream is
Morere Hot Springs
Lodge & Cabins
( 06-837 8824;
www.morerelodge.co.nz
;
SH2, Morere; d $80-120, extra
adult/child $20/10)
, a farmy enclave with accommodation in a classic 1917 farmhouse
and two cute self-contained cabins.
From Gisborne on SH2, keep an eye out for the brightly painted
Taane-nui-a-Rangi
Marae
on the left. You can get a decent view from the road; don't enter unless invited.
SH2 continues south to Nuhaka at the northern end of Hawke Bay. From here it's west
to Wairoa or east to the salty
Mahia Peninsula
. Not far from the Nuhaka roundabout is
From the roadside, check out the carving at the house's apex: a standing warrior holding
a
taiaha
(spear), less stylised than most traditional carving.
