Gisborne and Mahia Peninsula

Captain Cook at Gisbourne

Me at viewpoint on the road south from Gisborne, Young Nick's Head in background

Freedom camping Opoutama Beach, Mahia Peninsula

around the peninsula...

...find some shade for lunch

deserted beach

coast

East Cape done and dusted. Through Gisborne and along to Mahia Peninsula where we got a neat beachfront freedom spot. Drove around peninsula on gravel roads exploring. Temp around 29.

Lazy day at the beach

First in the world to see the dawn

Had to have ice creams

just watched things happening on the beach

view from bus

Some shade, reading, drinking...

This was such a good spot we decided to stay another day.  I got up at 6.00 to photograph the dawn, unfortunately most didn't come out.  Went back to bed till 7.00.  We walked for 1/2 hour along the beach to the north end of the bay then later drove up the road to Te Puia Springs wondering if they had hot pools there.  They didn't but we had ice creams.  Then we basically sat in the shade reading, drinking, going for paddles in the water...

Interior of Tikitiki Church

Rangitukia

horses are everywhere on the East Cape

fabulous beaches

Tuparoa

road to Reporua

Reporua

Great freedom camping spot Waipiro Bay

We ended up sitting out 24 hours of rain and wind at Te Araroa.  Then we got 2 hot sunny days, 30 degrees.  We made our way south, stopping at 2 settlements, Tikitiki and Ruatoria to un-hitch the car and explore some unsealed roads out to bays on the coast.  Hardly anyone else about.  Found this great spot to stay the night at Waipiro Bay and ended up staying the next day too.

Across the top of the East Cape

Ruakikore church

Hicks Bay wharf...

...falling into disrepair

Heading up the 700 steps to the East Cape lighthouse - the most easterly point in NZ.  Pointing to the ubiquitous no camping sign

view inland from the lighthouse

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Me on Hicks Bay wharf just after Malcolm got me by saying, 'did you feel it move?' and for a minute I was worried!!

Loved this church, Ruakokore, - just a peaceful atmosphere when we stopped, quite early in the morning. Then across the top of the peninsula to Hicks Bay (we cycled out to the old wharf) and stopped at Te Araroa. We went out to the lighthouse at East Cape and up the 700 steps!!

Opotiki to Te Kaha

Lots of great beaches

Malcolm in action

Te Kaha

viewpoints on the roadside

After our big cycle ride we decided to have a more relaxing day and just tiki-toured our way north to Te kaha.  Sunny day, lots of great beaches.

Motu Trails

Shelter near the highest part of the Motu Road

...but I didn't



Malcolm was waiting for me to fall in this ford...

 

 

 

lunch spot

nearly down to the dunes

We decided to ride the Motu Road trail  which we thought was 42 kms(and I was worried I might not get home at 42kms) until we were told in the briefing before we left it was 55kms. Mainly downhill but some steep uphill bits (mainly in the 13kms we didn't notice on the map!)  The road was gravel and steep and rutted.... I hated the uphill bits - and the downhill bits! More of a challenge than fun! It was cloudy in the mountains but sunny when we got to the coast. The dunes trail was great (that's the last bit of the trail - we rode that last time we were here) - Malcolm zipped on ahead to put the hot water on for showers and I walked up the little hills feeling like I should be wearing a t-shirt that said 'well I've already biked down the Motu Road and it's 55kms'.  Good to have done it though.

2016 - the sun comes out again

Example of fancy architecture in Opotiki

In the courtyard of the Two Fish Cafe

Volkner's church

After 3 rainy days in Tauranga we headed east to Opotiki today.  We are parked at Motu Trails HQ and are doing a big ride tomorrow.  Took a walk around by the river and through the town - getting the best coffee and brownie at Two Fish Café (even though it was actually shut - they gave us takeout cups!)  Tonight we are headed to a concert at the rugby field, it is Dave Dobbyn with Herbs and only costs $5 at the gate.  P.S. - the missionary/minister of this church was killed and eaten in a Maori uprising in the 1800's, guy called Vokner.