Out East - a story by Our Place Magazine
Out East is a new series that focuses on things to see and do in the spectacular Eastern Bay of Plenty.
This article first appeared in Our Place magazine, Spring 2025.
With Whakatāne at its heart, the Eastern Bay is home to one of New Zealand’s most loved beaches in Ōhope and many other spectacular spots along the coastline. Heading further East is the iconic East Cape SH35 road trip, and inland you’ll find ancient indigenous rainforest. Everywhere you look, there are places to explore and hidden gems to discover when you venture out East.
Whakatāne
Whakatāne town centre is the hub of the Eastern Bay with a beautiful tree-lined main street and not to be overlooked due to its range of boutique shops and variety of eateries. The perfect day out with a group of friends, without the traffic and parking fees! The town is the artistic and cultural hub of the district, with regular art exhibitions at Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi – the Whakatāne Exhibition Centre, and many sites of historical significance to Māori.
Ōhope
Ōhope – the jewel in the crown. The most frequent winner of the New Zealand Herald Best Beach awards – it’s not just about the beautiful beach but the myriad of things to do in and out of the water. Surfing, fishing, beach walks, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, surf casting, kite surfing, bird watching - the list goes on.
Ōhope’s 11km of shoreline and safe surf break makes it ideal for many activities.
Ōhiwa Harbour
Ōhiwa Harbour is a playground in itself. The northern end of Ōhope gets most of the attention with the iconic West End sheltered surf break surrounded by spectacular pōhutukawa-clad cliffs. But Ōhiwa Harbour, the southern half of Ōhope, offers plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, walks, fishing, kayaking, and more.
Take the kids to Ōhiwa and enjoy a relaxing day out exploring the harbour inlets by kayak or paddleboard, or a spot of fishing off the wharf. Even if you don’t catch anything, there are plenty of options nearby to grab a nice bite to eat.
Wharfside at Port Ōhope comes alive with music, food and activities during the summer months. Delicious coffee is on the menu daily, or visit the famous Fisherman’s Wharf for dinner for stellar harbour views from the spacious deck of this relaxed, beachy restaurant.
Ōtarawairere Bay
Ōtarawairere Bay is also a hidden gem of the Whakatāne-Ōhope area not to miss.
Pōhutukawa trees loom over a sheltered beach of golden sand and crushed seashells, framed by rocky headland. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic, a relaxing swim, rock pool exploring, or just a few hours to lie on the beach and forget about the world for a while.
This secluded beach is accessible only via a 15-minute walk from Ōtarawairere Village, or a 10-minute kayak, but the trip is definitely worth the effort. It’s also accessible from Whakatāne via the renown Ngā Tapuwae o Toi walking track, but be certain to check the tide tables before making the trip, because the north-western end of Ōtarawairere is inaccessible during high tide.
Whirinaki Te Pua a Tāne
If you love mountain biking, hiking or just taking in the serenity of an immense, ancient wonderland, the road trip to Whirinaki Te Pua a Tāne Conservation Park should be on your summer bucket list.
After a two-hour drive from Tauranga, you’ll find yourself in a Jurassic-like world of thousand-year-old trees, rushing rivers and rare wildlife. It’s one of New Zealand’s most remarkable and significant forests and a must-see biodiversity hotspot. The park is valued for its mixed indigenous podocarp forests, including tōtora, rimu, miro, matai and kahikatea.
It’s also home to a number of rare birds, including the North Island brown kiwi, red and yellow-crowned kākāriki, North Island kākā, whio (blue duck) and the endangered kārearea (New Zealand falcon). Be sure to keep your eyes and ears peeled to experience some of these rare wonders.
The park is valued as a taonga (treasure) containing the living children of Tāne Mahuta, the Māori God of the forest. Local iwi Ngāti Whare is the active kaitiaki (guardian) of the park, working with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to protect the natural, cultural, and historic resources for the benefit and well-being of future generations of Aotearoa and visitors.
Ruatāhuna
Journey a little further and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Tūhoe country, Te Urewera. Rich in history and a world away, a trip to Ruatāhuna in Te Urewera is an experience like no other. Take a journey into the heartland of New Zealand’s largest indigenous rainforest, where you feel a spiritual connection with the land and its people.
The area is also known as te Manawa o te ika a Maui – the heart of Maui’s fish. Māui (the mythological demigod from Māori and Polynesian legends) caught a giant fish – the North Island of New Zealand and Ruatāhuna is its heart.
Ruatāhuna is homeland of the Tūhoe tribe. Tūhoe people are born from Te Urewera – the children of the mist. They are mana whenua and kaitiaki (guardians) of the land. At the heart of the experience of Ruatāhuna is the unwavering desire to maintain a thriving and self-sustaining community and environment for mana whenua, the spiritual connection with the land and sharing this with visitors. Take a day trip and stop for lunch at Mou Mou Kai cafe at Te Tii Ruatahuna, or stay a little longer at one of the Te Tii chalets. Chat to the locals and hear fascinating stories of the history and culture of this untouched wilderness.
As we look towards the warmer months, now is the time to start planning your trip out East. Whether it’s for a day trip or a week, you might find yourself returning for more.
