• Interesting East Cape Landscapes to Visit this Summer

Aotearoa’s East Cape juts out into the Pacific Ocean like the fin of a fish, offering a myriad of cultural and historical landmarks. As the easternmost point of New Zealand, it’s the first place to see the sunrise every day – and it’s also renowned for its high number of sunshine hours.

From the intricately carved St Mary’s Church to the Tolaga Bay Wharf, New Zealand’s oldest pohutukawa tree, and the East Cape Lighthouse standing sentinel over the Pacific Ocean, the landmarks and scenery of the East Cape are distinctive and varied. And it makes for a beautiful, memorable summer Kiwi holiday.

1. St Mary’s Church at Tikitiki

Inside of a Church on the East Cape, Gisborne

Caption: The intricate pews and walls of St. Mary’s Church, Tikitiki on the East Cape. Credit: www.tairawhitigisborne.co.nz

With an interior crafted by local Ngāti Porou carvers and weavers but with a structure that is distinctly European, this stunning church displays a meeting of two cultures and was built as a memorial for the soldiers of Ngāti Porou who died in WWI.

Famous Ngāti Porou leader, Sir Āpirana Ngata was the skilled mastermind behind the interior design. He was known for his dedication to reviving the dying Māori art and craft skills in general, and St Mary’s was one of his first initiatives. A short 20-minute drive from Ruatoria – the meeting point for the Maunga Hikurangi experience – St Mary’s is easy (and essential!) to fit into any East Cape itinerary.

2. Tolaga Bay Wharf

A view of a long wharf from the beach out to the ocean

Caption: The outstretched arm into the ocean: Tolaga Bay Wharf, East Cape. Credit: www.newzealand.com

Both one of the best places on the Cape to dangle a fishing line and a fascinating snapshot of Aotearoa in the first quarter of the 1900s, Tolaga Bay Wharf is well worth the 30 min walk to the end and back. This epic structure juts 660 metres into the Pacific Ocean and was opened in 1929 to allow large ships to load and offload goods. Recently, it’s been beautifully restored and in the summer months, you will find locals doing bombs into the azure waters below.

3. Te Waha O Rerekohu, Aotearoa’s Oldest Pōhutukawa Tree

Two people standing in front of the largest pohutukawa tree

Caption: The oldest Pōhutukawa tree in New Zealand stretches its branches across the sky. Credit: www.newzealand.com

Imagine a tree old enough to have been around when Moa roamed Aotearoa – that’s the age of Te Waha-o-Rerekohu, New Zealand’s oldest pōhutukawa tree.

Standing on the grounds of the local school at Te Araroa, a tiny coastal settlement at the north end of the cape and the birthplace of Sir Āpirana Ngata himself, it’s a huge, healthy, and bushy specimen.
It’s at its most stunning around Christmas time when bright red flowers adorn its 600 year-old branches. Please visit https://ngataongaohinerupe.com/ for local tours of the area.

4. East Cape Lighthouse

East Cape Lighthouse aerial shot over the water

Take a 22km, no-exit gravel road from Te Araroa to reach the most easterly point in Aotearoa, which is where the East Cape Lighthouse stands proudly 154m above sea level.

Accessed by a walking track of more than 700 steps, the exertion is well worth the views at the top. Afterward, consider cooling off for a dip at one of the many golden beaches just nearby. It’ll be the perfect end to your stunning journey to the East Cape.

The hours tend to go a little slower on Aotearoa’s East Cape. Make the time to explore this little-known region of New Zealand and its many gems before or after your Te Urunga Sunrise Experience with us.

October 20, 2021

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Meet Irawhaaki - Maui’s father. In other versions of the Maui stories he was also known as Makeatutara. It was Irawhaaki’s mistake in performing karakia upon Maui that was to render him mortal and lead to his ultimate demise at the hands of Hinenui-te-po, the goddess of the spiritual realm. Book your tour now to learn about the story of all nine carvings https://maungahikurangi.com/experiences/
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Aside from the beautiful views and landscape, our tours also offer a taste of local cuisine and produce. Lunch for our Haramai Day tours include kumara salad, kangawaru (a sweetbread made from kumara, corn grit and flour), fruit and juice is a welcome bite after pushing to the top of our maunga! Book your tour today 🥪🌱https://maungahikurangi.com/experiences/
🌟 Meet the Grandmother of Maui, ‘Te Kauwae o Murirangawhenua', whose magical jawbone features in many stories—from slowing the sun to fishing up the North Island (Te Ika a Maui). Don’t miss the chance to experience this rich heritage! Book your tour today to connect with our stories and breathtaking landscapes at www.maungahikurangi.com. 🌊🛶
Introducing 'Te Waka Hourua' – the double-hulled canoe, also known as 'Te Waha o Ruaumoko', which signifies the Eastern point of the compass. This canoe serves as the gateway to our site and represents the migration of many waka to Te Tairawhiti.

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Be one with Maui, his people, land sea & sky. Maui Tikitiki-a-Taranga the person who slowed down the sun, the person who brought us fire, the person who fished up Aotearoa from the sea, come hear his story, come see his lands, meet this people and feel his presence through his descendants, Ngati Porou.
Road tripping the East Cape? Stop over on State Highway 35 for an awe-inspiring experience off the beaten track that you’ll never forget: Maunga Hikurangi
Each of our nine breath-taking carvings has a unique story to tell, and each of those stories is an important piece in the overarching legend of Maui, a founding member of the Ngati Porou tribe. Here is Hine-rau-ma-ukuuku, a wife of Maui. Hinerau has the significant responsibility of welcoming all manuhiri (visitors) to our sacred maunga. Her warmth radiates even on a misty morning, as you climb to the top to greet the sun ☀
Happy New Year! While each and every sunrise is a magical moment we never get tired of, there’s something extra special about the first sunrise of the year, a sign of a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead 👐☀🌄

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