We left Ohope known as the gateway to the East Cape at about 9.00am to continue our trip up to the East Cape. Another sunny day but we believe some bad weather was on its way.
The coastline along this part of the coast is variable with pebbly and sandy beaches.
Hawai Beach very interesting pebble beach which is literally covered with driftwood. Most of the driftwood has come from inland forests and been washed down the many rivers along the coast.
River which flows out to Te Kaha Beach not much water flow very dry.
Mouth of the Te Kaha River. Toi Toi country. We have never seen so many Toi Tois
Te Kaha Beach
Looking down over the mouth of the river from the Resort Hotel where we had lunch
Just out of no where this big Resort Hotel appeared after driving through so much isolation.
Te Kaha, Much improved from when we were last here.
Looking down onto the little bay below the Resort Hotel balcony.
Leaving Te Kaha heading up towards Whangaparaoa which covers some of the best coastline in the area. The highway passes a series of lovely bays. The above is the Anglican church at Raukokore. Waihau Bay has a General Store and Post Office established in the 1870's
Whanarua Bay which has perhaps the best beach on the East Cape.
Above is Cape Runaway at the end of Whangaparaoa Beach. The Cape itself is not accessible by road.
Whangaparaoa Beach.
Zooming in to the far end of Whangaparaoa Beach with its sheer vertical cliffs.
We have now arrived at Hicks Bay Motel which is very 60's but you dont have any choice out here. A good half way stop just for one night between Ohope and Gisborne. It hasn't changed in forty five years when we passed through then. Still a shocking place. Very uncomfortable. I thought I was past having to stay in this sort of Motel. But it was up on the hill looking over Hicks Bay so was a nice position.
This is the inside, lounge and separate bedroom. Hard built in beds in the lounge for sitting on and watching TV terrible enough said. When we walked in I said Hi di hi campers for those who remember that TV program.
It did have a nice balcony looking over the bay. Hicks bay beach on the left.
There is also a little bay right below the Motel around from Hicks which is called Onepoto Bay. A few baches nice safe beach for families.
We went to the far end of Hicks bay out to a very old historic wharf which wasn't really safe to walk out on but guess who did, Yes PT as he saw some fishermen out on the end of it fishing. There was a notice saying closed do not enter so I stayed behind especially when I looked under it and saw some of its pilings missing, just look at the photos below .
Would you walk out over this!!!!!!
He survived
This is the boat ramp beside it.
Looking back from the far end of Hicks Bay. Motel somewhere up on the hill to the left.
River mouth into Hicks Bay
Nice tidy bit of Real Estate on the Beach at Hicks
View from our Motel room
Same view zoomed in
Looking down on the Motel from the road.
Another view of the Bay as we were leaving further up the hill.
Forgot to mention that we had no Wi fi at Hicks Bay last night so couldn't do Blog. Hence doing yesterdays and todays in one go.
HICK BAY TO GISBORNE 9th April 2016
We got away early today as couldn't wait to get out of the Motel. Fine first thing but we could see the bad weather closing in around the East Cape area so we left Hicks Bay across the hill and down across Tokato Flats to Te Araroa where we made the decision not to take the hard drive out to the Cape over a narrow windy rough road 22Km out to it and 22Km back to the main highway.As we continue on our way over the hills looking back we were glad we didnt as it looked awful out there.
The rest of the day turn for the worse. Clouds came in , low cloud over the hills and fine drizzle now and again but didn't really interfered too much to our day except the photos all look dull.
In Te Araoa there is this beautiful 350 hundred year old Pohutukawa tree in the school grounds. It is also reputed to be the largest of its species in the world. It stands at 21.2 meters tall and measures 40 meters at its widest point.
You can see still getting the sun but soon changes.(above)
More prime Real Estate along the coast.
Closed in on this one above to show the car parked in the house and just left.
Tokomaru Bay
Another historic bridge at the northern end of Tokomaru Bay an area called Waima. We had a coffee in the old pub there.
This bridge is in worst condition than the last. You wouldn't walk out on this one.
Tolaga Bay Pub. Great old building.
Tolaga Bay Wharf, the longest in the Southern Hemisphere once used for coastal shipping activities. This one was safe to walk out on. It stretches 600 meters out to the sea. First built in 1929 it was used constantly up until the depression years. It hasnt been used now since 1989 and is suffering some deterioration as the steel reinforcing is rusting badly in parts and bursting the concrete casings. They are raising funds to repair it.
We walked out to the end.
This is a photo off a postcard which you can see better.
At the end of the wharf
Rail lines that run the full length of the wharf and the end of the wharf.
Taken just in a little from the end of the wharf.
Looking along underneath the wharf. You can just see the blue sea at the end.
Cliffs beside the wharf
Sign made of driftwood at Turihaua beach
Tuirhaua beach
Looking out of our motel unit in Gisborne
From the balcony still rain around.
Tomorrow we are off to Lake Waikaremoana so here's hoping the weather will clear a bit but not looking good. I doubt if we will get Wi fi over there so could be missing for two days but not sure.
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