We left Matata and started driving while listening 96.9 Tumeke FM and discovering Māori songs. First we passed by Whakatāne and enjoyed the views from the Kohi Point, which was and old Pā (village / fortress), now with views to the sea and Whakatāne. After that we drove through the beautiful wetlands finishing the day in Ōpōtiki before officially starting the SH35 Road.
SH35 is the popular route to drive the north of the east of the North Island, it’s a winding road with very good views and vibes. The first hour or two we had views to the White Island - Whakaari, a volcano island with a permanent white cloud on top. The rest of the road we had nice view on beaches, forest, sheep, horses and other farm animals.
We saw a statue of a fish on the road and stopped to have a closer look - the owner of the house close by came to explain us that the statue was his and painted by his son in law, he wanted to tell the story of the kahawai fish and the Māori traditions and beliefs about it - how they come in with the waves and after the season two big waves come in to clean the ocean.
The next stop was Waihau Bay general store - the owner was really nice (you might notice a pattern here) and told us about the film Boy from Taika Waititi. It was filmed in the store and some more places around in the area - we saw the movie that night and was a beautiful movie, really cool to see the same places + a Michael Jackson Zombie Poi E Haka bonus scene.
We finished the day at Lottin Point, a camping spot at the end of a gravel road where we could try some fishing, lit a fire and see the stars, really remote and magical. A good place for Alix to turn 28! 🎉
We spent the next couple of days driving, stopping at churches, eating pies, walking long wharf ruins and waking up with beautiful sunrises. We also found a dog in the road, went to the closest house to be told it was normal that this dog was in the middle of the road - back country I guess!
Arrived in Gisborne, the town of the sun - it’s where the sun rises first in the world! - and we saw a baby seal in the beach in the morning! We walked to Wainui lighthouse ruins in Tuaheni Point on a nice low tide beach walk. We met Cy in the afternoon, it was so nice to meet in real life! We got a bunch of recommendations and lots of things to see in the South Island can’t wait to go. We also met Julia by chance - she’s starting mandarine picking in Gisborne … small country.
Views from the Pa
The guardian
Kiwi zone
Subway truck
Kahawai
Boy bridge
White church
Christian Māori
Green
Found some pāua shells
Fishing
Sunset at Lottin Point
Marshmallows
Fire and stars
Fire
Early morning
No more fire
Alix got a rock (also she cut her finger with a yogurt)
First ray of sun
Defocused crab
Wharf ruins
A singular large tree
Bricks
Alix friend
Turning into ruins
Ceramics warehouse
Wool worth
Skies
Rebuilt 1988
From Cooks walk
Framed
The hole
With the flock
Baby seal
With the sea
The lighthouse
Waiting for something
We found a weapon
Happy with the whip
Lost carving
Tree of life
Shine
Museum tools
The east coast
Gisborne
Taxi!
Alix was making fun of me
Last rays of sun