East Cape and Poverty Bay
Sample from NZDH East Cape and Poverty Bay chapter
The road around the East Cape, which begins its journey in Opotiki and travels around
a seemingly endless necklace of picturesque bays to Gisborne, is a unique, seldom
seen part of NZ with its own distinctive style and personality.
If you choose to drive this route don’t be surprised if you find horses tied up outside
the Four Square store while locals shop inside, or if you’re invited to go pig hunting
or fishing, or even offered a bed at a local marae.
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Day One
East Cape
Opotiki, the gateway to the East Cape, is where most visitors begin their exploration
of this relaxed and friendly region. Although the route can be driven in a day,
it’s worth taking the time to smell the flowers along the way. With blossoming pohutukawa
trees lining the coast from top to toe all summer, their tiny red flowers carpeting
the sticky tarmac bright red, it’s certainly not hard to do!
In Torere a sight seldom seen by city slickers is the Pig Dog Training School. Hunting
is a popular regional activity, and hunters travel from far and wide to test their
skill in the rugged Raukumara range.
Venture inland on the East Cape and wilderness encounters await. East of Hawai jetboats
and whitewater rafts ply the mighty Motu River, while keen fly fishermen stalk the
reclusive brown trout lurking in deep pools at every bend. Mountain biking, horse
treks and 4WD adventures provide further options to explore these ranges or you
can take a guided walk to the peak of sacred Mt Hikurangi.
It’s the first point in NZ to see the sun every day -a uniquely spiritual experience
which draws upon the lore of the local Maori, Ngati Porou. Visitors can sample macadamia
nut products at Pacific Coast Macadamias in Whanarua Bay or delight in the region’s
large array of gourmet foods including fresh crayfish, truffles, fine olive oils,
award-winning cheeses and superbly crafted wines from Gisborne, NZ’s Chardonnay
Capital!
There are many historical churches to see en route including the Anglican Christ
Church in Raukokore, built in 1895 and on a bit of a lean thanks to the Wahine storm
of 1968, and St Mary’s Church in Tikitiki, one of the most richly decorated Maori
churches in NZ. Its stunning interior features carvings, tukutuku panels and stained
glass windows recounting the history of the Ngati Porou.
Historical sites also abound. Whangaparaoa is the site where Maori canoes landed
in 1350 AD, and Cook’s Cove near Tolaga Bay provided a temporary home for the crew
of the Endeavour during Captain James Cook’s first exploration of the NZ coastline
in 1769. Captain Cook made his first landing in Gisborne on 8 October 1769, seeking
fresh food and water. Met by local Maori, he misunderstood their traditional welcome
and left the bay without provisions. Naturally upset, he called the area Poverty
Bay.
But it’s Ruatoria that is the true heartland of the East Cape. Relaxed and friendly
it’s a mellow town where locals are happy to share their unique lifestyle and culture
with visitors. The only remnant of Ruatoria’s once troubled past is its local iwi
station, 98.1 Radio Ngati Porou. It was started to keep communication flowing in
the community; today it simply provides entertainment.
While Te Araroa School claims to have the largest pohutukawa tree in NZ (Te Waha
o Rerekohu is over 600 years old and has 22 trunks and a girth of 19.9 metres),
Gisborne District also holds two world class tree collections at the Eastwoodhill
and Hackfalls Arboretums. Plus there are many other town and country gardens for
afi cionados to explore. Whangara is the home of Whale Rider, and the site where
this acclaimed NZ movie was filmed. A plaque on the northern end of Wainui Beach
further south marks the spot where 59 sperm whales were buried in 1970 after becoming
stranded on the sand.
Gisborne markets itself extensively as the first city to see the sun, but that’s
not its only attraction. Tairawhiti museum has a fascinating collection of Maori
and European artefacts and photos dating back to the 1800s, while at Maia Gallery,
a contemporary art studio, students enrolled in Tairawhiti Polytechnic’s Toihoukura
School of Performing and Visual Arts display their work.
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East Cape and Poverty Bay chapter.
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