Embrace autumn in the East!

This article first appeared in Our Place Magazine, April/May 2024. Read the full edition of the magazine here.

It often seems like summer is over in the blink of an eye and with an early Easter this year now that’s been and gone too. All those summer trips you meant to take are still on the to-do list and it seems like all that’s ahead is the slow, inevitable slide into winter.

Well summer may be over, but Whakatāne and Ōhope have plenty going on in every season. While there might be a slight chill in the air in other regions of Aotearoa, autumn in the Eastern Bay of Plenty brings warm, settled weather right through to late in the season.

Whakatāne and Ōhope are just a couple of hours down the road, if that, so it’s possible to do a weekend away or even a day trip. Put a halt to your hibernation and start planning a trip that will extend that summer holiday feeling well into autumn.

Choose your own adventure

Whether you like to pack your weekend full of activities, or prefer to plan a trip around an exciting event, Eastern BOP has something to fit the bill.

Hit the trails

The Ngā Tapuwae o Toi (footprints of Toi) walking trail is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most spectacular one-day walks. Leaving from Whakatāne township you’ll take in historical pā sites, native forest (including the largest remaining pōhutukawa forest in the country), stunning sea views and seabird colonies and forest birds in abundance.

There’s toilet stops and lookout spots along the way and, depending on your fitness level, you can aim to do part of the trail or the go for the whole thing.

Life’s a beach

Ōhope beach is a long-time favourite with locals and visitors alike — it’s even been voted as the country’s favourite beach. Its white sand stretches for 11km, and, as it’s north-facing, it catches maximum sunshine, more than 2250 hours each year. It’s safe for swimming and surfing, and is ideal for fishing and walking too.

Otarawairere Bay, between Ōhope and Whakatāne, is lesser-known but no less beautiful — it was recently crowned NZ’s best hidden gem beach in the NZ Herald annual reader poll.

Time for tee?

There’s two 18-hole courses to choose from, a parkland course at Whakatāne Golf Club and a links course at Ōhope Links. Both clubs warmly welcome visitors. Be warned though, both courses also come with an extra challenge: are you able to resist the distraction of those spectacular
views as you take that swing?

Saunter round the shops

Whakatāne was winner of Most Beautiful Large Town at the Keep NZ Beautiful Awards in 2023 so for those who like to wind down on their weekends, it’s the perfect picturesque spot for a leisurely wander. There’s plenty of boutique shops to explore and eateries to refuel at. You can take a stroll along the harbour-front, follow the historic trail or visit one of the galleries or gardens.

Sample the nightlife

Whakatāne is the official Kiwi Capital of the World due to the number of wild kiwi living so close to its urban environment. The Whakatāne Kiwi Trust is running night walks every Friday night through April and May at either Ōhope Scenic Reserve or Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve.

While there’s no guarantee you’ll spot our nervous national icon, you’ll learn all about this native bird as well as other nocturnal creepy-crawlies and even glow-in-the-dark fungi.

Enjoy some island time

Moutohorā island (Whale island) lies about 9km off the coast of Whakatāne. It’s a wildlife management reserve, meaning it’s a pest-free sanctuary for endangered plants, birds and reptiles. With the approved tour operators you can choose to take a boat to the island, followed by either a bush walk or experiencing the island by kayak.

Either way you’re guaranteed to see plenty of rare wildlife including seals, little blue penguins, tuatara and various native bird species. You’ll end the day by digging yourself a soothing geothermal spring pool at Onepū Bay, Moutohorā’s secluded hot water beach.

For a bird’s eye view of White Island, New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, take a scenic flight. The flight path also takes in Mt Tarawera, Ruapehu, the East Cape, and the Coromandel.

Earmark an event

There’s an event to suit everyone in Whakatāne and Ōhope during the autumn months.

If food is your jam, Flavours of Plenty Festival runs from 4-14 April with a smorgasbord of events to tantalise your taste buds. The theme this year is Culinary Collisions so expect some unexpected collaborations and combinations at the variety of workshops, tours and experiences on offer.

On 20 April, stepping onto Te Teko Racecourse will be like stepping back in time as the Farming Like Grandad event showcases farming as it used to be. There’ll be Clydesdale horses, wagon rides, sheep-shearing, old-school tractors and farm machinery to admire.

Weekends at Wharfside bring summer vibes into autumn at Port Ōhope Wharf. On selected Friday and Saturdays in April, the Wharfside pop-up activity hub kicks into action and you can hire SUPs, e-bikes and e-scooters, perfect your manu off the wharf and then settle in for some well-earned kai from one of a selection of foodtrucks to the sound of live music.

Just be

Sometimes a trip away isn’t about ticking things off a list of must-see/must-do list but about getting away from your regular routine for a day or a weekend to just breathe and be. Whakatāne and Ōhope’s spectacular scenery is the perfect spot for just that. Sit on the beach at Ōhope and watch the waves hit the shore or enjoy a leisurely coffee while people-watching at one of Whakatāne’s many cafés.

Go for a wander if the feeling strikes, no pressure, no timetables, just the time and space to refill your cup. Whether you’re looking to ramp things up or to rest, for stimulation or serenity, you’re bound to find what you need in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.