Te Araroa
Te Araroa, which translates to long pathway in English, is 10km away from Hick's Bay. It's a fairly big town for the Eastcoast with a large and lovely bay good for both swimming at surfing. After heading to the coast from town take a left on the beach until you come to the school. There's a magnificent pohutukawa tree here which is believed to be at least 350 years old. The Waha o Rerekohu Old and gnarled, I counted some 15 independent trunks accounting for its reputation as the largest in the country. If you head towards the right of the bay, the road turns into a pot-holed, unsealed road which will take you to the East Cape Lighthouse. This is just the place to catch a sunrise if you can drag yoursef outta bed as you're almost standing on the International Date Line so you'll be amongst the first people in the world to catch the sun rising on that particular day (the Chatham Islands on off the East Coast of the South Island are the first). The lighthouse sits on private land but fortunately access is provided. It's a steep climb up some stairs which will take you between 15 and 30 mins. It's well worth it. Not merely to boast that you've stood on the Easternmost point of New Zealand but mostly for the views. The lighthouse looks on to East Island which was where the original lighthouse stood before it was moved to its present location for practical reasons. Incredibly, tiny East Island was once a farm. The place is another testament to the Kiwi spririt. The island has become a reserve but it is only thanks to the efforts of one local who took it upon himself to rid the island of the wild goats? which were causing havoc to the native flora.
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Think twice before staying at the Te Araroa Holiday Park. Initially, it creates a good impression. Just as you enter on the left, there's a fish 'n' chips take away. The reception is also a well-stocked shop. However, although we caught it off season, the rates were high and we found the place a shambles. It seemed like the place hadn't been cleaned for yonks and the TV room wasn't fit for a homeless person, thats no exaggeration, I should of taken a photo of it.
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