Sunday 18 January

We missed the sunrise in Gisborne and set off on our northbound journey. Rather than take the coast road we decided to go cross country and this turned out to be a wise choice as we were treated to a marvellous journey of about 140 km through the plains outside Gisborne and then through the Waioeka Gorge. Having first crossed the fertile plain we rose gently up into the hills

over the top

and then descended for about 70 km through the Waioeka Gorge, a truly remarkable passage.

We stopped at the Tauranga Bridge only one of the few remaining ‘harp’ (named after it’s construction) suspension bridges 

and then on to Opotaki Beach well known for it’s surfing where the surf dudes and babes were strutting their wares—Mark waddled into the shallows of the surf!

We stayed overnight at a DOC site at Matata. We needed to do some washing and Mark picked this site as it had all the amenities.

A twin tub

and dryer

but the surf and fishing was just behind us

this chap was catching fish on a spinner!