East Cape, Cape East, Young Nick’s Head

East Cape, Cape East, Young Nick’s Head.  All good names for a pub.  But they are in fact just descriptors for the easternmost points of New Zealand, our destination today.

 

We had a leisurely morning at the pavilion.  I took a final walk along the river path which abuts the acreage.

After we’d packed up and prepped to leave, the owners invited us to see their home, designed by the architect John Scott [see blog post from a few days ago, too lazy to insert another link].  It reminded us of post-war post-and-beam architecture in West Vancouver.  It was an excellent example of a small space serving many purposes.  There was a lovely garden which abutted the property, plenty of space for their two dogs.

We were on the road late-ish, north to the East Cape, originally called Cape East (by Cook), and past Young Nick’s Head (the land mass first sighted on Cook’s voyage as they approached the unknown south, the naming of which was awarded to the sailor who spotted land first who was, yes, a young lad called Nick).

 

The first half of the drive was windy.  W-I-N-D-Y.  W.i.N.d.Y  Very very windy.  And when I write windy I mean winding, windingly winding.  WINDY winding.  But absolutely unbelievably beautiful.  One of the most scenic rural drives we’ve ever taken.  A highlight was lake Tutira, the pictures of which Stephen had to snap at 90 km/h.

After Wairoa, the drive was up and down, like literally up to incredibly heights across ridges and then dipping down through lowland dales.  Repeat.

It was one of our longest drives, and as we approached Gisborne the temperature hit 25.

All the above are “action” shots expertly shot by Stephen on his iPhone as we barrelled down the highway at 90 km/h.  Thank you!  But no thanks to NZ; nary a turnoff or viewpoint for touristy pics.

Mid-afternoon we arrived in Gisborne.  Gisborne.  How can I put it diplomatically?  Not New Zealand’s finest hour.  Fortunately, we’re not in the town proper; we’re about 6 kms north in a beach community of bungalows and cottages, very reminiscent of Vesuvius on Salt Spring.  We have an AirBnB for three nights in a prefab; small but really well designed.  And only about 100 meters from the beach.  Which is glorious.

 

After arriving we walked the beach for exercise, ran some errands, and picked up groceries to eat in.

Oh hey, bonus content today: Stephen shot a video from the crest of a ridge called Trafford’s Hill between Wairoa and Gisborne.  Enjoy you many surfers: