Malcolm's ride

Malcolm rode the Motu Trail's Pakihi Track (52km).  He got the shuttle from Motu Trails hq where we were parked and was dropped off a couple of hours later in the forest near Motu.  He said the track was amazing, though you have to keep your eyes on the trail as there's lots of steep drop offs.

Opotiki dunes cycle trail

Typical view from the trail

picnic lunch

Me amidst scenery

Bumpy boardwalk across a beach

I'm sure there were more up-hills coming back!

Start/end of trail

Moved on to Opotiki this morning and parked up at the Motu Trails hq.  From here we cycled the dunes trail an easy(ish) 20km return through dunes and across beaches.  Stunning scenery.

Whakatane and Ohope

Whakatane waterfront

detail of paddlers on waka

Whakatane harbour entrance

Statue of Wairaka

Freedom camping spot at Ohope

Ohope Beach

Volcanic White Island

Ohope Beach

Whakatana and Ohope are just a few kms apart.  We spent a day wandering around Whakatane, along the waterfront, saw the Mataatua Canoe replica and statue of Wairaka.  When the canoe arrived from Polynesia the women were left onboard while the men went ashore to explore.  Wind and current began to drag the canoe away and Wairaka encouraged the women to do the man's job and paddle.  Whakatane means act like a man - so the legend goes.

Ohope is around the headland at the start of another long sandspit.  We got 1 of 3 freedom spots right beside the beach with views down to the mountains of East Cape and out past Whale Island to White Island with its ever-present plume of steam.

Pukehina

Pukehina Beach

Freedom camping spot at Pukehina Beach

An even better spot at the end of Pukehina Beach

Pukehina Beach

 

Waimana Gorge

After we left Tauranga we went to Pukehina Beach which is between Te Puke and Whakatane.  We freedom camped beside the beach - very picturesque and peaceful.  The next morning we drove along the spit about 5km to the end.  This had a beach on one side and an estuary behind.  Lots of birds including dotterels - it was called Dotterel Point.  Next time we'd stop here - even better than our spot.  That night we camped beside a river at the Waimana Gorge - an inland spot for a change.

Tauranga

Morning looking across to the Mount from the lagoon-side

Me on the lagoon boardwalk

freedom camping spot, Tauranga

street art, Tauranga

another mural

We did a 2 hour plus walk around the lagoon at Tauranga.  It was cloudy at first but the sun soon came out.  A big section was on boardwalk through estuaries and was very interesting.  In Tauranga itself we did a walk around the historic places including the Elms, a mission station and grounds.  We also took in the art gallery and checked out some large murals done by a spray can artist.

Tauranga and Mount Maunganui

 

 

Me on the mount

Malcolm below the mount

 

Looking south into Tauranga harbour from the mount

 

Looking across the harbour from Omokoroa

 

 

We have spent a week in this area.  First we went to Omokoroa, a peninsula that juts into the Tauranga Harbour (this is a huge expanse of water mostly behind a long island called Matakana Island).  We did a walk around the headland here which is mostly along a mowed strip part of people's gardens so it was almost like being in a park.

Then we went to Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.  The mount is always to be seen in this area so it was good to climb up it and see the views from up there.  At the base of the mount is a hot pool complex where the water is salt, very buoyant.  A great spot for a soak with the mount behind.

Karangahake Gorge

Malcolm has got the hang of selfies

The Windows Walk - you go over that bridge, up some steps and into a tunnel...

...it's pitch dark but every now and then you come to these 'windows'

Yikes - sideways!  Spot Malcolm on the walkway

Me photographing old gold stuff

Sideways again!

Waihi Beach

We went back to Karangahake Gorge to look at the parts we didn't see on the cycle trail.  The side gorge with the 'windows' walk was amazing - very dramatic.  Inside the mine tunnel it was pitch dark - we put our hands out to feel the sides of the tunnel.  The Talisman café was excellent - great coffee and cake.  Then we moved to Waihi where we parked with the above view.