Northern Hawkes Bay Northern Hawkes Bay is a popular destination for outdoor adventure and wildlife and wilderness.
Along with water based activities the rivers and coastline offer well recognized trout fishing and excellent seafood with whitebait spots, deep sea fishing, surfcasting and underwater fishing all available.
Wairoa is the main town of Northern Hawkes Bay and is the gateway to Lake Waikaremoana, Mahia Peninsula and the wilderness of Te Urewera National Park. Wairoa in Maori means Long Water and is located on the banks of the expansive Wairoa River, which provides an excellent and sheltered venue for water-skiing, jet boating and rowing. The town offers a pleasant, relaxed lifestyle, perfect for those who enjoy the outdoors.
Your first port of call should be the Wairoa i-SITE Visitor Centre on the corner of SH2 and Queen Street for maps and information about local attractions. These local attractions include the Portland Island Lighthouse, built of solid kauri on Portland Island and used from 1878 to the mid-1950s. The lighthouse was moved to its present position in 1961. Kopu Pitiera Memorial Stone, opposite the library on the riverbank serves as a memorial to a turbulent period in Wairoa's history during the 1860s. Kopu was a major figure in the conflicts of the time. Wairoa was once a river port with wool, flax, fibre, meat and dairy products as the main exports of the area.
The Heritage Trail walk starts on Marine Parade and is abound with historic sites such as River Wharf, the most substantial remaining wharf of the export era and pretty picnic spots. After a long day walking, fishing or sightseeing visit the Morere Hot Springs on SH2, 40 minutes from Wairoa.
Mahia Peninsula
Part of Northern Hawke's Bay, the Mahia Peninsula is surrounded by the deep blue and crystal clear Pacific Ocean, which breaks onto a mix of black and white sand and rocky beaches.
Mahia is an easy 90 minute drive north from Napier via Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay’s northern most town. It is a mecca for activities like fishing, diving, kayaking and surfing.
Beaches worth visiting include the black sand of Black’s Beach, which on a clear day provides views across to Napier, Opoutama and Mahia Beach for excellent sheltered swimming spots. On the Gisborne side of the peninsula Mahanga Beach and The Reefs offer excellent surfing, sheltered coves and rock pools at low tide.
Mahia Peninsula Scenic Reserve is one of the last large tracts of lowland coastal forest remaining on the East Coast and the 3.5km loop track takes you through a range of native vegetation.
Mahia offers excellent camping spots at Mahia Beach and near Whangawehi Harbour on the eastern side. There are several B&Bs, homestays and farmstays within the area. Mahia has a few dining options with the local pub, Sunset Point Sports Bar and Bistro, offering great seafood.
After a day on the golf course or the water, head inland via the Wairoa-Gisborne highway to the Morere Hot Springs. These are set in a nikau-predominant native bush reserve with superb walking tracks. After an easy or challenging bushwalk relax the muscles in one of several hot pools.
|