We were awoken this morning by the farmyard animals in the adjoining field. There was no sign of the friendly horse, although several dogs seemed to be milling about the place.
We left the campsite at 9ish and continued our drive on the Pacific Coast Highway, driving south now along the east coast of the Cape.
Passing through a couple of small villages that were steeped in Maori history, our first stop of the day was at a slightly larger village called Tokomaru Bay.
As we pulled up alongside the shoreline it was beautiful in the early morning haze, with the 8kms sandy beach framed by the rocky headland at either end. Apart from a lone surfer there was no one else around.
Back on the highway we did a slight detour to Anaura Bay, where Captain Cook made his 2nd landing on NZ soil in 1769. You can see why he wrote so passionately about the place, as we soon saw when we came over the hills, the sight of the small bay was worthy of a ‘wow’ moment.
We stopped by a small plaque that commemorated his landing, and meeting with the local Maori tribe.
A closer look at the peaceful beach was needed, and then a drink and biscuit in the van to have a break from driving.
Next stop on the coastal drive was Tologa Bay, which boasted having NZ’s longest pier. At 660 metres long it was a reminder of a bygone era when the main method of transportation was by sea.
Gisborne our final stop on today's route was getting nearer, and after a lunch stop at Tatapouri Bay we entered the City. We checked into our campsite for the night - Waikanae Beach Holiday Park, and parked up on a site overlooking the beach and sea.
We then went for a walk around the City was proudly tells everyone is the first City in the world to see the sunrise.
Gisborne is also a place that is very proud of it’s connection to Captain Cook. We took in the ‘Cook’ sights around the river mouth; visiting the statue of ‘Young Nick’ (Nicholas Young), Cook’s young cabin boy, who was the first to spot NZ. And, we also stopped at the impressive statue of Cook himself, perched atop a globe with his many escapades marked out on it.
We then crossed the Turanganui River and stood in the very spot where Cook first got NZ mud on his boots, at the foot of Titirangi (Kaiti Hill). Now the area around this site has been reclaimed from the sea and turned into a huge container/log export port.
We climbed up the steep Titirangi, which was once an impressive Maori Pa. Now it is home to yet another Cook statue, this one though is better known as the ‘Crook Cook’! A gift to the City it was later revealed that the statue is actually of an Italian naval officer…strange then that on the maps it is still announced as being Cook!
Back down in town we stopped to admire the craftsmanship on the Te Tauihu Turanga Whatamana (The Canoe Prow). A large modern Maori sculpture incorporating images of the two men killed during Cook’s first meeting with the Maori in 1769.
Back at the campsite we have settled down after a lovely dinner with a rare treat – donuts! Neither of us can remember the last time we had one!! We have been good though, and not eaten the whole pack in one session!
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