Whakatane

Whakatane was the arrival point of the Mataatua Canoe, one of the seven of the great fleet. Toroa, the commander took his men to inspect a nearby cave. The  canoe began to float away as the tide came up. Toroa's daughter Wairaka spotted the danger and yelled, 'Me whakatane au i au!' I shall act like a man. So she did. She rescued the canoe and Whakatane got it's name.

It's a little off the beaten track for many travellers, but with a genuine real live volcano, dolphin swimming, one of the best beaches in the country and few tourists, the Eastern Bay of plenty is a great way to experience the best of a New Zealanders New Zealand.

Just over the hill from Whakatane is Ohope beach, perhaps one of New Zealand's most popular holiday destinations. During the summer Xmas holidays every beach house, hotel, motel, camp ground, cabin and broom closet can book out with Kiwi's enjoying their annual holiday. The long white sandy beaches stretches from Kohi Point in the west 12km to the head of the Ohiwa harbour in the east. It's a brilliant spot on a summer day.

The drive between Rotorua and Whakatane takes you past Lakes Rotoiti, Rotoehu and Rotoma. The road winds its way around the lakesides through bands of lush pristine native forest and canopy covered roads, there are some great short walks including the famous Hinemoa's track. The conical mountain you pass near Edgecumbe is, Mt Edgecumbe. It's Maori name is Putuaki and relates to the story of the walking mountains on page

About 30 minutes from the forestry town of Kawerau, up a dead end loggers road, are the unusual  Tarawera falls.  The Tarawera falls are unique in that they emerge from a solid rock face. The river begins its journey at Lake Tarawera disappearing into lava tubes, formed by the outer rim of lava cooling while the hot molten lava still passes through the centre, before travelling underground and re-emerging from the solid rock wall like a tap with the faucet knocked off. It's takes a little extra effort to get there but it's well worth the trip.

Hinemoa's Pool

Hinemoa was the  daughter of a high ranking family, she was considered 'puhi' or sacred, it also meant her whanau (people) would choose her husband. Tutanekai was  from Mokoia Island (situated in Lake Rotorua). Hinemoa accompanied her family to an important meeting on the islands, there she spotted the Young Tutanakai displaying his fighting prowess. Tutanakai met Hinemoas gaze & it was all on. Hinemoa was forbidden from seeing Tutanakai as he was not of high enough rank to possibly marry Hinemoa. Tutanakai would set near the waters edge at night playing his flute, it's tearful message floating across the lake to heart broken Hinemoa. Realising Tutunakai was pining for his love, her family pulled all the waka high out of the water so she could not use them. Not to be out done, Hinemoa tied a row of gourds around her waist to help her float. She swam out to the island, when she arrived she was freezing so went to warm up in a hot pool. Tutanakai's slave turned up to collect some water for him, she took his gourd and smashed it. When the slave returned and told Tutanakai, he went to investigate and found his love waiting. The family eventually accepted the situation and they lived happily ever after. You can still swim in Hinemoa's Pool.