Napier - Opotiki

Two cars did wheelies around our camp site last night at Clifton Beach. The promised rain started in the morning as we left our camp and shopped, fuelled up and bought LPG. We had arranged to meet Lynne and Gary at the free parking area on Marine Parade overlooking the ocean. They arrived about 2:30pm and we had a good catch up, did some trip planning and had the odd drink.

We dumped and then set off on the road to Gisborne in torrential rain. After a stop at Lake Tutira, a possible camping possie, we continued to Wairoa where we booked into a nice camping ground on the banks of the Wairoa river. The rain was bucketing down and a cold strong southerly had set in. We were happy to be on power. The river rose but well away from us.

After a quick shop we continued on the windy road towards Gisborne turning off and onto the Mahia Peninsula. The wind continued but the rain turned into heavy showers. We reckoned that we had never had such a wet 24 hours in a camper! We drove most of the roads on the peninsular with great beaches on either side. Our camp for the night was at Opoutama Beach facing S/W with the southerly still blowing hard and the odd cold shower. The forecast was looking better however.

The rain cleared in the morning and the wind dropped. We stopped in Gisborne for a look. The girls bought jerseys at Kathmandu. The road followed the coast with great sea views and then turned inland before we drove back down to the coast at Tolaga Bay. We booked into the camp and were able to have lunch outside! After dinner we taught Lynne and Gary to play golf.

We took our fishing gear along the longest concrete wharf in NZ.
The views were spectacular - much better than the fishing! Some of the local kids were jumping off the wharf and the view of the surfers from side on was great.

After breakfast Val and I walked to Cook’s Cove, a track thru farmland to a lookout and then down thru the bush to the cove where Captain Cook first landed in NZ, took on water and meet some friendly Maoris. It was a 6km walk.

 We continued and had lunch on Anaura Bay before catching up with Lynne and Gary on the beach at Tokomaru Bay where Gary was fishing.

We drove around to the Te Puka Tavern and stayed in the carpark with power, overlooking the ocean. Drinks and dinner at the tavern.

After dumping we drove thru to Ruatoria and at Tikitiki we visited the beautiful St Mary’s Catholic Church with great Maori carvings and panels. 

At Te Araroa we left Lynne and Gary and drove 20kms on a rough road to the lighthouse at East Cape. We climbed the 800 steps to the eastern most lighthouse in the world. Very remote and great views in all directions. Back at Te Araroa we camped at a POP at Morepork’s Rest, an old house now a backpackers.

We drove thru Hicks Bay and out to spectacular views at Lottin Point. The weather had packed up and we had rain and strong nor’easterlies with huge seas pounding in. After rounding the “corner” at East Cape the country has change with lush bush, very much like the West Coast which, in reality, it is.

We drove thru Waihau Bay to Maraehako Bay and stayed at Bea’s camp. We drove down to the bay and watched Gary fish in strong winds with the odd heavy shower. We retreated away from the shoreline to a more sheltered area for the night.

It was only a short drive to a camp at Te Kaha and a sheltered site. The sun shone for the first time in a while so we enjoyed a barbeque sausage for lunch and a walk.

We drove on around the coast and across the Motu River to our next stop at a POP at Maraenui. What a fantastic place with great sites overlooking the bay, toilet and shower and even an outside fireplace. Gary tried to fish in the pounding surf. It was sunny and we were sheltered from the strong westerly wind. It cooled in the afternoon so we light the outside fire shelter fire using the driftwood from the beach. We had a drink (or two) and made toast, baked potatoes and had dinner in front of the great fire.

The forecast for the next few days was not great so Lynne and Gary decided (understandably) decided to go home.

We decided to stay put but changed sites to be on power. The rain set in at lunch time. Later it stopped so we had a brisk walk along the beach.

It was really cold in the morning and we were glad to be on power. As we need to dump we headed to a camp at Tirohanga Beach close to Opotiki. The sun was out so we biked a 6km cycleway along the sand dunes into Opotiki, a nice ride and then relaxed in the sunshine until it set.

We stopped for lunch at Hukuwai Beach overlooking the bay with White Island steaming on the horizon, another beautiful day. After a shop, we drove to Noel and Judy’s home and parked in their driveway. They have a lovely house high on the tablelands with a view to die for, over the bay.

 Noel was driving the kiwi fruit trucks and there is another couple, Barry and Anne, staying in their camper doing the same thing. Noel and Barry arrived home and we all had a few drinks and a great meal.

Noel picked me up in the truck and trailer and I spent the morning learning the kiwi fruit trade. It was fascinating watching the fruit being picked and then loaded onto the truck to go to the packing facility. Val, Judy, Anne and Lottie (the dog) went for a walk along the local beach. In the afternoon the cloud came over and I think we are in for some rain over the next few days.

 

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