Off Highway One

Today was a day trip to Lake Waikaremoana, about 60 kms from Wairoa, one hour along SH 38, with sealed road for the first half and shingle for the rest. We stopped along the way at Tuai on Lake Whakamarino, location of the Tuai power station. The road passes through farmed flats and hill country, exotic forest and native bush, and the Ureweras looming blue in the distance.

The area, ancestral home of the Tuhoe people, has a visitor centre that is, quite simply, beautiful. We would have liked to stay at the camping ground but all the cabins were booked out. It’s a popular four-day walking track around the lake, and the lake is also popular with fishers and boaties. I think there may have been dorm-style bunk beds available but, mindful of our six-bunk overnight train trip to Hamburg a few years ago, we opted for the two motel nights in Wairoa instead. But, a place to go back to.

While we were at the lake, a contingent of 25 BMW motor bike riders arrived. These were the ones due at Castlepoint the day we left. They’re on a seven-day trip that started in Queenstown and will finish in Rotorua. Got talking to them, and 23 of the group were from Colombia and two were Australians. They were loving their tour and their time in NZ.

Super hot today, at least by Wellington standards, so once we were back from our day trip, a siesta was the only sensible option. We did a walk around town in the relative coolness of the late afternoon, including a stop at the local pub for a beer.

There’s a lighthouse by the river in Wairoa, relocated from Portland Island. Portland is the last of the North Island marine forecast areas. On this trip we’ve been to Cook (Cape Palliser), Castlepoint and Portland – the last three areas for the North Island marine forecast, which if you’re interested is broadcast at 4.00 am on RNZ National. Next for us, and the first sea area on the forecast, is Plenty, at East Cape.

Off to Gisborne tomorrow, with a detour to Mahia Peninsula and Rocket Lab on the way.