East Cape: our top 10 stops

At last we are off to explore the East Cape. Ticking off one of the last parts of New Zealand neither of us have seen before heading home (to Christchurch). These 10 stops we would rate highly in the 4 nights we had. There will be heaps more as this area is just mind-blowingly beautiful.

To help you plan your own trip I have added some details but its really a photo journey. The East Cape website is full of heaps of great information. You could spend weeks exploring this area.

1. Whakatāne

As we left Tauranga around midday huge thunderstorms were approaching threatening to dampen our day. Leaving Whakatāne there is a quick pull off to a look out – do not missing this! The view is all the way up the East Coast on a good day and we had a lucky break in the weather.

Ōpōtiki is really the gateway to the East Cape and the last place you will find a decent sized town and supermarket. Make sure you stock up here. There are a few smaller 4 Square type dairies along the way but few and far between. Sadly for us the thunderstorms had arrived so I didn’t get any shots but I have it on good authority there are great views from here too.

We also got our first look at White Island from the Whakatāne look out. It was pretty silent here but further up the coast there was definitely some activity going on. Many will know White Island from tragic events a year ago but if not it is an active volcano just off the coast.

2. Te Kaha

Getting accommodation between Christmas and New Year is a bit of a challenge. Te Kaha was our ‘treat’ stay. The Te Kaha Beach Resort was just perfect given a big day driving from Cooks Beach in the Coromandel, via Tauranga to drop a child with friends and lunch with family. Not to mention the very slow drive up the Coast. Not because of traffic, there was none of that, just because we were taking it all in.

My first sighting was a great outcrop of rocks as we came in, only accessible at low tide. Sadly we have missed the best of the pōhutukawa blooming. We just have to go back earlier next time. Can you spot the elephant with the kiwi sitting behind his head.

The evening was of mix or colourful sunset, cloud and then thunderstorms with lightning. We didn’t make use of the pool and spa but good to know it’s there for the future. I could get most photos from the view out our window or the little beach in front. This pōhutukawa was in full bloom!

The morning was beautiful so we got up early to explore around the little township. The meeting house, Tukaki, sits beautifully in the township and the church just along a short side road.

3. Raukokore

Every corner of the Cape is amazing but this bay and the little church that sits in it really epitomises it. I think the photo below really sums up for me a lot of the cape. Beautiful green lawns with a stunning Marae, bush background and a glistening bay out front with birds and locals collecting driftwood or mahinga kai. Add in a few horses and it’s just magical.

The Anglican church is pretty hard to miss and very popular as you can imagine. Given that and the time of year we were lucky to have plenty of time on our own to just take it all in and explore around. They even have penguins nesting underneath though we didn’t see them during the day of course. I haven’t included pictures of the cemetery as it is clearly not just historic and that felt too intrusive but it is very very beautiful.

4. Waihau Bay

This was a quick stop off as we were on the hunt for a good bay for snorkelling and diving. Actually every bay looked amazing but we just weren’t ready to stop. We arrived at Waihau Bay to coincide with a massive fishing competition. It was fair heaving with people and boat trailers so we made a short stop this time. On another day it would have been beautiful. Another interesting fact about this bay is the movie Boy was filed here.

5. Lottin Point

Driving along looking at the amazing bush and bays, still only doing 60km/hr with no traffic around us, Cam calls ‘that’s it turn here’. He had read a blog that Lottin Point was good for diving so off down a narrow road we went. What a great decision. At the end of the road there were campers perched where they could and lots of dive bouys bobbing in the water. And for me a few Kingfishers clearly nesting in the cliffs.

Picnic lunch time and then got the snorkeller and his spear gun ready to head out alongside the locals and catch dinner. Which he did! It was just a beautiful spot. Not a sandy beach but so many rock outcrops to explore. Its a narrow road, mostly paved, then a dirt drive down to the beach. There is even a motel here.

6. Te Araroa

This is the gateway town to head out to East Cape Lighthouse. Clearly if we had done that it would have made our top 10. We skipped it as we had taken it so easily all day with lots of long stops that we ran out of time. Also helping our decision was some pretty average weather.

The beach here is pretty wild but it also boasts the oldest and largest pōhutukawa tree, Te Waha o Rerekohu. Sadly missed its flowers by a few weeks but still very impressive. There are a few amenities here like a little dairy and fuel. Have to say we did enjoy an icecream on the beach.

7. Tokomaru Bay

We stayed the night at Te Puia Springs largely because this was where we could get accommodation but the hot mineral pools were also an attraction. The accommodation is just fine, pretty basic but there is no food available or any ability to cook (no shared kitchen, microwave etc). That was fine by us we headed into Tokomaru Bay for a look around and dinner at the local tavern Te Puka.

The old wharf area is definitely worth a look. Quite broken down now and rightly blocking any access onto it but very impressive. It is incredibly long.

Near the wharf is the ruins of an old freezing works and shipping company. Is definitely makes for some good photography fun – just make sure you add a few coins to the collection box for restoration.

8. Tolaga Bay

We only had a 30min drive from our accommodation last night which gave us ages for exploring. Also confession time a few favourites in here but I am lumping them all under one heading to keep the top spots to 10.

Cooks cove walk

First stop was the walk over to Cooks Cove and the hole in the rock. There is a car park but its basically a walk from the beach. They say 2.5 hours but that would be with long stops and exploring. The walk starts through farm land with a great view over the cliffs and down into the campsite we stayed in. You hit the bush pretty soon though.

You can see from the photos above the cliff outcrops where the hole in the rock is as well as the beautiful bay. So much history of Cooks arrival in New Zealand in this area. But the real fun was indeed the hole in the rock. Includes a picture of us both, sort of.

The view through the hole into Tolaga Bay was well worth a big explore and there was also heaps of history dotted around in signs.

Tolaga Bay Wharf

The wharf here is a concrete structure 660m long. You can walk along its complete length and it gives you some stunning up close views to the cliffs. Its very popular for fishing

I had great hopes of a clear night sky to see the full moon rising over the wharf. It wasn’t to be but not long after sunset the colour started up and created some very moody views, especially with the boat and disappearing and reappearing moon.

Back to where we stayed. We totally recommend the Tolaga Bay Holiday Park. Due to late booking we only had the very basic of cabins, a bed and chair but on arrival they had a cancellation so we ended up with a full cabin. Perfect when you have not had a chance to sort anything out for many days – especially snorkeling gear. Right on the beach so we caught the early light the next morning along with a few surfers. What a backdrop.

9. Anaura Bay

This was a short side trip from Tolaga Bay. It only took 20 minutes but the weather was totally different. Sun and a huge beach awaited us. There is a little bit of a settlement here, a doc camping ground and a full camping ground. The drive in over the hill is well worth it.

10. Mahia peninsular

Also technically not one stop there are so many areas here. We just touched the very edges doing a bit of a mini circuit. As you drive in you see how awesome it is going to be.

It looked pretty popular with families. Lots of little kids around and lots of boats. One of my highlights was spotting a gannet on the way in. Just sitting in the grass probably (hopefully) resting.

Cam managed to google a good cafe on the peninsula and it was open – what are the chances. Rocket Cafe the food was amazing, such fresh seafood but the real treat was in the characters running it. They were just awesome, we think everything was made by grandma in her shower cap, the granddaughter (maybe 12) coming to help in the holidays and a trendy coffee maker in the background. You just have to go there. The wild beaches further around looked incredible too. Reminded me a little of the beach structure in Kaikoura.

So much more

This is just our very quick taste of the East Cape and if we went again we would stop in a bunch of different places. I haven’t included out last day which was an overnighter in Wairoa. We would not recommend the accommodation (that is a whole other story) but the beach was wild and wonderful. I will leave you with a couple of my favorite moody shots.

If you found this blog useful check out some of our other NZ trips:

• Catlins waterfalls
• Walking the Mueller Track
• Lake Angelus Tramp