New Zealand's remote East Cape is one of the first places in the world to see the sun rise. It is one of the country's least visited places and it offers a spectacular rugged coastline and is a great place for travellers who want to get off the beaten track.

Gisborne

Apart from being the first city west of the International Date Line, Gisborne is a sunny place with palm tree lined streets and some good beaches and vineyards nearby. Not many travellers make it here and most people who visit Gisborne are driving up to the East Cape.

Practical Information

Visitor Information Centre

209 Grey Street, Gisborne

Tel (06) 868 6139

Website www.gisbornenz.com

Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm

Department of Conservation

63 Carnarvon Street, Gisborne

Tel (06) 869 0460

Open Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm

Coming & Going

InterCity have daily coaches to Auckland, Napier and Rotorua that stop outside the information centre on Grey Street.

Accommodation

Chalet Surf Lodge

62 Moana Road (State Highway 35), Okitu

Tel (06) 868 9612

Flying Nun Backpackers

147 Roebuck Road, Gisborne

Tel (06) 868 0461

Gisborne YHA

32 Harris Street, Gisborne

Tel (06) 867 3269

Sycamore Lodge

690 Gladstone Road, Gisborne

Tel (06) 868 1000

Sights

Tairawhiti Museum

This excellent museum complex features exhibits on local history with a fine collection of Māori artefacts.

Stout Street, Gisborne

Tel (06) 867 3832

Admission free

Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun 1.30pm-4pm

Te Moana Maritime Museum

Next door to the Tairawhiti Museum is the Te Moana Maritime Museum, which has displays of shipwrecks including the bridge house of the Star of Canada, which ran aground on Kaiti Beach in 1912. It also has an exhibit of historic surfboards.

Stout Street, Gisborne

Tel (06) 867 3832

Admission free

Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun 1.30pm-4pm

East Cape

This remote and seldom visited region boasts a beautiful rugged coastline and sleepy towns with a rich Māori culture.

It is sparsely populated with very few facilities and it's a good idea to stock up on groceries and use the ATM in Gisborne or Opotiki before venturing out here.

Local Transport

There isn't much local transport around the East Cape, but Kiwi Experience's East As bus does a good job of getting you around. East As travels along State Highway 35 from Gisborne to Rotorua via the East Cape. It also includes stops in Taupo and Napier.

Accommodation

TOKOMARU BAY

This small seaside town is most travellers' first (or last) stop on the road around the cape. It is a laid back place with a couple of shops.

Brian's Place

Potae Street, Tokomaru Bay

Tel (06) 864 5870

Footprints in the Sand Backpackers

13 Potae Street, Tokomaru Bay

Tel (06) 864 5858

House of the Rising Sun

Potae Street, Tokomaru Bay

Tel (06) 864 5858

TE ARAROA & HICK'S BAY

Te Araroa is the closest town with road access to East Cape and Hick's Bay is just a few minutes up the road.

Mel's Place

Onepoto Beach Road, Hicks Bay

Tel (06) 864 4694

Saddle & Stay Backpackers Farm Stay

State Highway 35, Hicks Bay

Tel (06) 864 4634

Sunrise Lodge

State Highway 35, Te Araroa

Tel (06) 864 4854

WHANARUA BAY

This beautiful seaside setting near the Opotiki end of the coastal highway is home to what may travellers describe as the best situated of the hostels in the East Cape region.

Maraehako Bay Retreat

State Highway 35, Te Kaha, Whanarua Bay

Tel (07) 325 2648

Te Urewera National Park

This remote national park is comprised of a large swathe of rugged wilderness and is home to two beautiful lakes – Lake Waikaremoana and the smaller Lake Waikareiti.

It is the country's fourth largest national park and the largest in the North Island.

The park has several good walking tracks that range from short walks to Lake Waikareiti to the brilliant Lake Waikaremoana Track (see below).

Practical Information

Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre

State Highway 38, Aniwaniwa

Tel (06) 837 3900

Open 8am-4.45pm daily

Coming & Going

Big Bush Holiday Park (tel (06) 837 3777; website www.lakewaikaremoana.co.nz) run a shuttle bus to the park from Rotorua and Wairoa. The one-way fare to/from Rotorua is $60 and it costs $25 from Wairoa.

Local Transport

Big Bush Water Taxi (tel (06) 837 3777; website www.lakewaikaremoana.co.nz) run a drop off and pick up service to the trailheads of the Lake Waikaremoana Track. The return trip costs $25.

Hiking

Lake Waikaremoana Track

Lake Waikaremoana Track (48km, 3-5days) is one of DOC's Great Walks. It is a varied trek through the wilderness surrounding Lake Waikaremoana that allows you to see many of New Zealand's unique birds. The track offers splendid views over the lake.

There are five huts on the track. Each cost $14 per night and must be booked in advanced through the Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre (tel (06) 837 3900).

The track can be hiked in either direction and the last three sections can be combined in one day.

The challenging first section of the track, from Onepoto to Panekiri Hut (8.8km, 5hrs), involves a steep 600m climb to the top of the Panekiri Bluff where you are rewarded by breathtaking views. The track then follows the ridge to Panekiri Hut.

The second day, Panekiri Hut to Waiopaoa Hut (7.6km, 3-4hrs), is mostly downhill through beech and kamahi forest.

The third section of the track passes through kanuka forest by the lakeshore and there is a short detour to the dazzling Korokoro Falls. This section runs between Waiopaoa Hut and Marauiti Hut (12.1km, 4½hrs).

The section from Marauiti Hut to Waiharuru Hut (6.2km, 2hrs) is an easy walk along the lakeshore. The area is home to kiwi and it is common to hear them at night if you're staying at either the Marauiti or Waiharuru Huts.

The stretch between Waiharuru Hut and Whanganui Hut (5.3km, 2½hrs) crosses the neck of the Puketukutuku Peninsula and then follows the lake shore.

The final stretch of the track, from Whanganui Hut to Hopuruahine Bridge (5.2km, 1½hrs), takes in lovely views of the Huiarau Inlet before crossing the Hopuruahine suspension bridge.