Another warm sunny day with a warm wind that was like walking with a hairdryer directed on us.

From Gisborne we followed the coast up north. The beaches were sandy and long with surf and turquoise blue water.

We passed people freedom camping and also people just living in the sand dunes in shacks and bad condition caravans.

Other places had brand new holiday homes all with views over the fab sandy beaches. There were villages here and there but not a big population. Lots of cattle and sheep farms in very hilly lands.

Many logging trucks passed all the time making their way to the port of Gisborne. They were carrying huge tree trunks and the trucks were double and even treble trucks and go so fast.

Our first stop was Tolaga Bay. It has a very long historic wharf. Built because the only way to reach this town was by sea. Reason for town was the flax industry. Last used 1967.

We walked all the way to the end right out into the sea.

At the end a couple were fishing and another couple and us two, all 6 chatting.

A small fishing boat came right under the pier and shouted to ask if they had caught any fish yet….No luck yet was the reply.

With that these two guys threw a large fish up to him, then another and another. We hoped we wouldn’t be hit in the face by wet fish! The 2 men had caught so many they had fish to give away. We were offered a fish but declined the kind offer. They were from the cod family and the people told us all about them.

Next lots of teenagers started walking up to the end of the pier. They were all going to jump off it. The girls told me there was a ladder at the end to climb back up again. They must be crazy it was a fair drop to the water. It is the Pacific Ocean on this east side of Gisborne.

As we got half way along another fishing boat arrived and we watched it head straight for the beach. One man held the boat while the other paddled to the shore (with water over the top of his wellies!) to reverse a tractor and trailer towards the boat right into the water. It was fascinating to watch how quickly they attached a line to the boat and hauled it onto the trailer and then jumped in the tractor and drove off down the road. They made it look so easy!

After spending a long while at Tolaga Bay we travelled further to Tokomaru Bay.

Tokomaru Bay is an historic whaling town that has been left to decay. The shops and buildings and freezing works in ruins are intact but look like they will collapse any time. It has been a grand place once. Meat freezing industry. There was another historic Wharf here but too dangerous to walk on and closed for safety. It made for great photos though. The bay was lined with a rock pavement right out to the end of the cliffs. The shallow water at high tide looked inviting. The pier extends beyond the shallow pavement to the deeper sea.

Grandad found 2 huge shells there and we’ve cleaned them up to bring home to show you.

There were a few darker clouds in the sky this afternoon and it’s forecast for thunderstorms and passing showers for the next few days. We haven’t seen rain for a long while.

Further along this road is East Cape and the most easterly lighthouse in the world. It describes a very scenic gravel road to reach the lighthouse. Locals told us it is a tricky drive along the gravel road and it takes 2 hours to drive it so sadly we won’t be going there!

We like Gisborne area very much, there is lots to do and see here. Looking forward to more adventures tomorrow xxxx