13a Gisborne to Opotiki Coastal route
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Nick Carthew - (MRA Master)
Last edit: 10-02-2021
Route Summary Both routes have incredibly beautiful scenery so the choice is yours.
For those of you who like to collect the country's cardinal points, this route visits East Cape, the easternmost point of the main islands of New Zealand. The west coast road along the shores of the Bay of Plenty is a joy to travel on.
The landscape, coastal vistas and roads are very good with good attractions earn this route 4**** stars.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
8h 30m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
371.37 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review Remote, windswept and soul-refreshing the East Cape of New Zealand offers the chance to get off the beaten track and exit the rat race. The Pacific Coast Highway (SH 35) is one of the world’s greatest, and least known, coastal road trips. It is single carriageway the whole way, windy and around every corner there will be something new to see. Stunning headlands, remote countryside, empty bays and coves, and bush clad peaks all mix together with remote settlements and farms to make this part of New Zealand the greatest place to replenish. The pace of life on the East Cape will mean you will want to go the same speed – slowly.
At RP 4, you can walk out on the 660 m long pier known as Tolaga Bay Wharf. Extending far into the deep water of Tolaga Bay, this wharf is a legendary place to dangle a fishing line. Allow half an hour to walk to the end of New Zealand's longest wharf and back. The opening of Tolaga Bay Wharf in 1929 made it possible for large coastal trading ships to load and offload goods. However, even as the Tolaga Bay wharf opened, improved roading and motor vehicles had begun to compete with coastal shipping. It was ironic that much of the cargo that passed over the wharf was road-making material, used to construct the road through to Gisborne, soon providing an alternate means of transport.
In recent years the wharf has undergone extensive restoration work, which will help to ensure that locals and travellers can dangle a line for many years to come.
I have suggested a coffee stop at Cafe 35 in the small town of Tokomaru Bay. After your stop, you can go straight on after crossing the river to visit the old Tokomaru Bay Wharf. It's a pleasant ride along the coast with palm trees and ferns along the 3 km road.
The Tokomaru Bay Wharf at Waima, Tokomaru Bay was built in 1940, replacing an earlier structure. The success of the Tokomaru Freezing Works had necessitated the continued expansion of the wharf since 1911; however, the disestablishment of the Tokomaru Bay Freezing Works in 1952 meant that the wharf was no longer utilised to any great capacity. Tokomaru Bay Wharf has historical and social significance as a recognisable remnant of a once thriving industry in Waima.
Back onto the Pacific Coast Highway and enjoy the next 80 kms of undulating & twisty road as you head north to Te Araroa. I have suggested re-fuelling for both human and machine here. The fuel pumps only operate with a card and the Kai Kart Cafe has great reviews on TripAdvisor.
Te Araroa is also the gateway to the historic East Cape Lighthouse – the most easterly point on mainland New Zealand and the first place to see the sunrise in the world each day. The breathtaking views are definitely worth the 700 steps up to the lighthouse! The road to the lighthouse is 20 kms long and half of it is on a narrow gravel road, the last 2 kms are on an elevated section around the cliffs with no protection, caution is required. Skip RP 13 if you don't want to ride the 40 kms.
RP 14 in Te Araroa is where you'll find the oldest and largest pohutukawa tree in the world at the local school grounds. Known as Te Waha-o-Rerekohu (the mouth of Rerekohu) is over 600 years old, it had a branch span of more than 37 metres when measured in 1950. The signage which explains the origin of the name is aptly displayed next to a model pātaka — an elevated food storehouse. Whilst the pātaka is of recent vintage — it was made by local residents — its symbolism harps back to the day when the tree was used as a whata-kai (a food drop-off centre), a practice reserved for people of high rank.
The next few kilometres are at sea level and relatively straight, you'll then climb high up to RP 16 where you'll have a great view across beautiful Hicks Bay. The area is named after Zachary Hicks, second-in-command of James Cook's Endeavour, which sailed along the East Cape on 31 October 1769.
The route is heading in a westerly direction now as you travel across the top of the Raukumara Peninsula towards it's west coast. The Pacific Coast Highway hugs the shoreline of the west coast with sea views of the Bay of Plenty around every corner. The name 'Bay of Plenty' was bestowed by Captain James Cook in 1769 when he noticed the abundant food supplies at several Maori villages there, in stark contrast to observations he had made earlier in Poverty Bay.
The 75 kms along the shores of the Bay of Plenty from Cape Runway RP 18 to the end of the route at Opotiki is a superb ride with an exciting twisty road and breathtaking coastal vistas.
Opotiki is a small town whose Maori population exceeds 50%, making it one of the few towns in New Zealand to be predominantly populated by Maori. Reflecting the area’s importance for Maori the main street in Opotiki is decorated with the works of master carvers. To get a picture of local history, you can take a guided walk with a Maori historian or visit the museum. Opotiki was one of the first places settled by Maori; it was also a centre for the Hauhau religion. In summer, the town fills up with holiday makers who come to enjoy the surf beaches, fishing and river activities.
The route ends, after filling up with fuel for tomorrow, at the Ranui Motel. As Opotiki is favoured by visitors, there are many choices for accommodation, I have included a few below.
Enjoy.
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Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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New Zealand
About this region
New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu)—and more than 700 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometres (103,500 sq mi). New Zealand is about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland.
Owing to their remoteness, the islands of New Zealand were the last large habitable lands to be settled by humans. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle in the islands and then developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire, and in 1907 it became a dominion; it gained full statutory independence in 1947, and the British monarch remained the head of state. Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 5 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealand's culture is mainly derived from Māori and early British settlers, with recent broadening arising from increased immigration. The official languages are Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, with English being a de facto official and dominant language.
A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, education, protection of civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom. New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. The service sector dominates the national economy, followed by the industrial sector, and agriculture; international tourism is a significant source of revenue. Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament, while executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the prime minister, currently Jacinda Ardern. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's monarch and is represented by the governor-general. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes. The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing states in free association with New Zealand); and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica.
New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Forum.
Read more on Wikipedia
Owing to their remoteness, the islands of New Zealand were the last large habitable lands to be settled by humans. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle in the islands and then developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire, and in 1907 it became a dominion; it gained full statutory independence in 1947, and the British monarch remained the head of state. Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 5 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealand's culture is mainly derived from Māori and early British settlers, with recent broadening arising from increased immigration. The official languages are Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, with English being a de facto official and dominant language.
A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, education, protection of civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom. New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. The service sector dominates the national economy, followed by the industrial sector, and agriculture; international tourism is a significant source of revenue. Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament, while executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the prime minister, currently Jacinda Ardern. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's monarch and is represented by the governor-general. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes. The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing states in free association with New Zealand); and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica.
New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Forum.
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Route Collections in this region A complete tour of North Island New Zealand from Auckland
A superb tour of everything that the beautiful North Island of New Zealand has to offer. From the far north at Cape Reinga where two mighty ocean currents collide, then, situated at the southern end of the North Island is the capital city of Wellington, recently named "the coolest little capital in the world" by Lonely Planet. Experience everything in between, journey through landscapes of magnificent coasts and beaches, sprawling farmlands and geothermal wonders. The breathtakingly beautiful Bay of Islands or the majestic, symmetrical volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki, or sitting within the Pacific Rim of Fire, Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland with bubbling mud pools, clouds of steam, and natural hot springs perfect for bathing and relaxing in. North Island has it all.
Māori culture is rich and ever-present in many parts of the North Island as is the architecture of the early European settlers. I would allow 3 weeks to cover this tour as this will enable you to spend more than one night in some of the fantastic locations.
Note: At Gisborne you have a choice of two routes, the coastal route included in this collection 13a or a shorter, inland route that travels through the Waioeka Gorge Scenic Reserve 13b. Links for both routes are included in the route 12 review.
Enjoy.
Māori culture is rich and ever-present in many parts of the North Island as is the architecture of the early European settlers. I would allow 3 weeks to cover this tour as this will enable you to spend more than one night in some of the fantastic locations.
Note: At Gisborne you have a choice of two routes, the coastal route included in this collection 13a or a shorter, inland route that travels through the Waioeka Gorge Scenic Reserve 13b. Links for both routes are included in the route 12 review.
Enjoy.
View Route Collection
A complete and epic 9 route tour of South Island New Zealand
The picture above is of the Devil's Staircase running alongside Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand's longest lake at 80 km. It was difficult to find one picture to sum up South Island because of the many varied and stunningly beautiful landscapes that this tour travels through.
The beauty of the South Island is in the diversity of its scenery.
Southern Alps
The main feature of scenery in the South Island is mountains. The Southern Alps mountain range is the backbone of the island, stretching for roughly 500 kilometres from Wanaka to Arthur's Pass. The Alps have snowy tops all year round, feeding glaciers and crystal clear rivers.
The highest mountain in New Zealand, Aoraki/Mount Cook, this soars to 3,724 metres. Mount Cook is one of New Zealand's greatest natural features.
Route highlights:
01: Lewis Pass road.
02: Arthur's Pass.
03: Mount Cook.
04: Lindis Pass.
05: Southern Scenic Route and Bluff.
06: Devil's Staircase.
07: Haast Pass.
08: Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
09: Buller Gorge.
Eight of these routes are 5 ***** star routes and the ninth is a 4**** star. There is so much to see on this tour it is guaranteed to make unforgettable memories.
You might want to allow for a few extra nights, I would suggest 2 nights in:
Christchurch.
Bluff or Invercargill.
Queenstown.
Fox Glacier.
And maybe a night in Motueka.
Enjoy.
The beauty of the South Island is in the diversity of its scenery.
Southern Alps
The main feature of scenery in the South Island is mountains. The Southern Alps mountain range is the backbone of the island, stretching for roughly 500 kilometres from Wanaka to Arthur's Pass. The Alps have snowy tops all year round, feeding glaciers and crystal clear rivers.
The highest mountain in New Zealand, Aoraki/Mount Cook, this soars to 3,724 metres. Mount Cook is one of New Zealand's greatest natural features.
Route highlights:
01: Lewis Pass road.
02: Arthur's Pass.
03: Mount Cook.
04: Lindis Pass.
05: Southern Scenic Route and Bluff.
06: Devil's Staircase.
07: Haast Pass.
08: Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
09: Buller Gorge.
Eight of these routes are 5 ***** star routes and the ninth is a 4**** star. There is so much to see on this tour it is guaranteed to make unforgettable memories.
You might want to allow for a few extra nights, I would suggest 2 nights in:
Christchurch.
Bluff or Invercargill.
Queenstown.
Fox Glacier.
And maybe a night in Motueka.
Enjoy.
View Route Collection