The journey around the East Cape is a “must do” for all New Zealanders and a great journey for tourists. The region takes you back in time with small country and coastal towns little changed for decades. The people are warm and welcoming and there is plenty to see and do. In my opinion, it is a region slowly waking up to tourism, but the mere fact that it is unchanged is also very appealing.
It’s a big region and not one to be explored quickly. You can start your journey from the Bay of Plenty or just as enjoyably from Hawkes Bay. From Hawkes Bay there are some long steep hills to conquer so towing a heavy caravan will soak up the fuel and test the downhill brakes. You will drive under the Mohaka Viaduct just North of Napier. There is a good car park at the bottom of the hill to stop and admire this amazing piece of engineering.
The main road is mostly sealed but can be very rough due to the many logging trucks that pound the road into submission and decay. It is suitable for all vehicles, although if you are cycling, be prepared for narrow roads and steep long hill climbs. It is a very popular motorcycle ride too. Freedom camping is allowed, but you must purchase rubbish bags which are your “ticket” to camp in fully self contained vehicles. For more on freedom camping, check the Gisborne District Council website.
There are many beautiful bays to explore and enjoy. The sea is bountiful and many locals make a living from the seafood as well as gathering for their families.
The East Cape region offers plenty to see and do. One of our favourites is the Rere Rockslide and Falls, some 40 klm’s inland from Gisborne.
This is a very popular spot for the locals and holidays and weekends you will see plenty of people here. The video above was taken after some heavy rain, but you can catch a ride down on an inner tube, lilo or air mattress most of the year round. Parking here is very limited and in the summer months it can get very crowded. Although we did manage to get our motorhome in and out, it was dicey.
Just downstream are the Rere Falls themselves. Again, parking is limited and there is a steep driveway down, so I would not recommend taking caravans down or motorhomes over 9 mtrs.
On the northern side of Gisborne are plenty of seaside communities to stop and see. One favourite of ours is the Tologa Bay Wharf, which juts out a kilometre.
Part of the journey heading North out of Gisborne
The view looking back towards the beach from the very end of the wharf
The drive out to the East Cape Lighthouse is also very popular. The road from Te-Araroa is mostly gravel and quite narrow so care is required. You may need to check with your vehicle hire company to see if you are covered whilst driving on unsealed roads. There’s really not much out there to see and the walk up from the carpark is quite daunting.
There are myriads of lovely bays, shops, cafe’s, honey centres and craft shops right around the cape. The main road is sealed, but again heavily chewed up by logging trucks.
One of the many beautiful beaches around East Cape. Anaura Bay is very poorly signposted and you can easily miss the turn off. This is a popular beach with locals who camp here over the summer months. Sealed road but very narrow and steep. Take care as it is basically a one way road, very narrow.