East Cape Caper
6 day East Cape small group tour
Enjoy the warmth of local hospitality along the road less travelled around East Cape from Whakatane to Waihau Bay and Hicks Bay. We lunch in beautiful Anaura Bay and stroll out along Tologa Bay Wharf. We stay two night in Gisborne and visit Eastwood Hill Arboretum then drive through the Waioeka Gorge to Rotorua.
WHAT TRACY LOVES ABOUT THIS TOUR: “In this remote region life moves at a different pace and you get a feel for an earlier New Zealand way of life. My favourite memories are meeting William in Whakatane, Sue at East Cape Manuka Honey and enjoying a cuppa and the view with Judy in beautiful Anaura Bay north of Gisborne.”
Day 1
Auckland - Waihi - Mt Maunganui - Te Puke - Whakatāne
We’re heading Eastwards! Down the southern motorway and over the Hauraki Plains and through Karangahake Gorge to Waihi for a stroll in this historic goldmining town. Continuing on to Mt Maunganui, we lunch at The Deckchair Cafe on the waterfront.
This afternoon we visit a kiwifruit orchard in Te Puke to sample and hear the history of this famous fruit. In Whakatāne our waterfront motel is just opposite the Whakatāne Wharf. We dine out this evening.
- Drive the dramatic Karangahake Gorge
- Visit a working kiwifruit orchard and meet the Kiwis who grow kiwis!
- Whakatāne - Awa Motel
See More
Accommodation
WHAKATĀNE - AWA MOTEL
On the waterfront opposite the Whakatāne Wharf, this four star plus motel is just across the road from restaurants and within walking distance of the town centre.
What we love about the Awa Motel – A great location to use as our launching pad for the Eastern reaches of the North Island. It makes for a relaxing evening strolling across the road for dinner or along the waterfront.
Day 2
Whakatāne - Ohope - Waihau Bay - Hicks Bay
This morning, with our guide William Stewart, we visit Kāpūterangi Pā, one of the oldest pā sites in the country, and Ngāti Awa sacred and culturally significant landmarks along the Whakatāne waterfront. There are stunning ocean views along the highway to Ohope Beach, Opotiki and Te Kaha.
Raukokore Church, sitting right on the beachfront, is a favourite photo stop. We lunch at Waihau Bay, renowned for deep sea fishing, where scenes from the movie “Boy” were filmed. We stay at Hicks Bay Motel and Lodge and dine in this evening.
- Meet Willliam in Whakatane to hear local history and legends
- Head off the beaten track and into the heart of the East Cape
- Hicks Bay - Hicks Bay Motel Lodge
See More
Accommodation
HICKS BAY - HICKS BAY MOTEL LODGE
Situated on a bluff overlooking Hicks Bay’s waterways and the closest motel to the East Cape Lighthouse. With breath taking Pacific ocean vistas this motel lodge offers the most relaxing of settings.
What we love about Hicks Bay – One of the most remote properties that MoaTours stays at in all of New Zealand staying at the Hicks Bay Motel is like stepping back in time and full of kiwi charm.
Day 3
Hicks Bay - Te Araroa - Tikitiki - Anaura Bay - Tologa Bay - Gisborne
We meet Sue at East Cape Manuka Honey to taste the honey and hear about the special qualities of the local Manuka trees. In Te Araroa we take a photo stop at the oldest and largest Pohutukawa tree, reputed to be around 600 years old. St Mary’s, Tikitiki, is a beautifully decorated church built in 1926, renowned for its carvings commemorating the soldiers of Ngati Porou who died in World War I. Mt Hikurangi, the first place to see the sunrise, dominates the landscape.
We stop at Tokomaru Wharf and later stroll down the restored Tologa Bay Wharf, both relics of the days when the sea provided easier access than roads. We lunch at Te Puka Tavern, Tokomaru Bay then call into Anaura Bay to enjoy a cuppa at “Rangimarie” with Judy Newell’s hospitality and magical views. We stay two nights in Gisborne and dine out this evening.
- St Mary’s Church, a beautifully decorated church built in 1926
- A cuppa at stunning Anaura Bay with Judy Newell
- Gisborne - Senator Motor Inn
See More
Accommodation
GISBORNE - SENATOR MOTOR INN
Stylish and comfortable motel accommodation in the heart of Gisborne a two minute walk to Central Gisborne’s shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Each of the spacious self contained suites has its own balcony with views over the bustling inner harbour marina.
What we love about the Senator Motor Inn – A great location makes it easy to take a relaxing riverside stroll along the walkway to the spectacular beaches or alongside the river in the opposite direction.
Day 4
Gisborne - Eastwoodhill Arboretum - Tairawhiti Museum
Discover the scenic, seaside town of Gisborne, including the wonderful surf beaches that draw the summer crowds.
We drive out to see the Rere Falls then take a guided tour by jeep through world-renowned Eastwoodhill, the National Arboretum. Spread over 65 hectares, it features the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees and shrubs in the Southern Hemisphere. We lunch at Bushmere Estate and taste their wines them tour around the town’s sights. We visit Tairawhiti Museum, which features major Maori and Captain Cook displays, and dine out in Gisborne this evening.
- Gisborne’s excellent Tairawhiti Museum
- Eastwoodhill, the National Arboretum
- Gisborne - Senator Motor Inn
See More
Accommodation
GISBORNE - SENATOR MOTOR INN
Stylish and comfortable motel accommodation in the heart of Gisborne a two minute walk to Central Gisborne’s shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Each of the spacious self contained suites has its own balcony with views over the bustling inner harbour marina.
What we love about the Senator Motor Inn – A great location makes it easy to take a relaxing riverside stroll along the walkway to the spectacular beaches or alongside the river in the opposite direction.
Day 5
Gisborne - Waioeka Gorge - Redwood Forest, Whakarewarewa - Rotorua
Leaving Gisborne, we drive through the beautiful native forests of the Waioeka Gorge, stopping for lunch in Opotiki, before travelling westward to Rotorua.
We pass by the bush-clad shores of Lake Rotoma and Lake Rotoiti, both popular holiday and trout fishing spots. Just outside Rotorua we step out onto the Redwoods Treewalk through 120 year old trees in the forest at Whakarewarewa.
We stay at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside Hotel, with indoor thermal pools, and dine in this evening.
- The scenic beauty of the Waioeka Gorge and Rotorua’s lakes
- The Redwoods Treewalk in the forest at Whakarewarewa
- Rotorua - Novotel Lakeside
See More
Accommodation
Rotorua - Novotel Lakeside
Situated on the serene shores of Lake Rotorua offering a relaxing environment with unsurpassed views of the lake. The central location, with wonderful facilities, means it is an easy walking distance to many local attractions, including cafés, bars and restaurants.
What we love about the Novotel Rotorua – Lake views from every room, a short walk to Ohinemutu Maori Village and ‘Eat Street’. The in-house thermal baths are hard to beat after a fun day out.
Day 6
Rotorua - Lake Tarawera - Auckland
This morning we sightsee in Rotorua including the geothermal activity in Kuirau Park and a guided tour of the Government Gardens’ sculptures.
We enjoy a farewell lunch hosted by our Rotorua friends Karen and David Walmsley at Lake Tarawera in a one of a kind setting and are guided by the Walmsleys at Te Wairoa Buried Village. We head northwards through the Waikato farmlands, reaching Auckland in the late afternoon.
- Relax over a “one-of-a-kind” hosted lunch at Lake Tarawera
- Rotorua’s Government Gardens
See More
Next departures
General inclusions
- All transport by comfortable, air conditioned coach (maximum of 18 travellers).
- Services of your knowledgeable MoaTours Kiwi guide.
- Quality accommodation chosen for a “sense of place”.
All Meals Are Included
- All Breakfasts
- All Lunches
- All Dinners
Included Experiences
The following activities and attractions are all included in the price of your tour:
Sightseeing & Exploring
You’ll visit all the following spots on the tour.
