We left Whakatane by 9am travelled along the beautiful coastline to Opotiki. The sea was in and the mud flats mostly covered.

We saw many pied oyster catchers and herons.

From Opotiki to Gisborne you travel down a long windy gorge. It is pretty amazing. The road climbs slowly up for miles but it feels like you are not climbing.

Then the environment changes into limestone scarps and steep valleys. You descend into wide valley bottoms and gentle hills. There was only about 4 or 5 viewing points to stop. Lots of fab scenery but nowhere to stop to photograph it. All that way there was only one cafe to stop at for a drink!

At Gisborne we went to the sea front. We walked all along the sands in the sunshine. It was 25*c and very intense sunshine, but cooler by the sea.

Early evening at high tide we went to the viewing areas high above the town. Gisborne is where Captain Cook first set foot on NewZealand soil. He had discovered land! There was a meeting between him and the Maori chief but the greeting was misunderstood as aggression and Maori’s were shot dead. Cook had to leave this coast and named it Poverty Bay.

Down by the sea and port we sat and watched the surfers and the canoeists being trained. They were fit young Maori men and were riding the surf waves and rowing strenuously. Then they saw me taking their photos and they stopped and waved at me. It made me laugh so much. Grandad and I got great photos of them in the bright sunshine.

We stayed until the sunset and ate fish and chips by the seaside. The seagulls were a pest…

Did you remember it’s pancake day, don’t forget to have some yummy ones. We couldn’t find anywhere to buy them today so we’ll get some tomorrow instead. Xxxxx