East Cape - Scenic Drive

The road from Gisborne to Opotiki by way of the East Cape runs through varied scenery of great beauty that makes the longer journey (twice the length of the direct route on Highway 2) well worthwhile. But the shorter route too has great scenery, running through the Waioeka Gorge, winding river valleys and an almost unpopulated region of forest-covered hills. Halfway along this route, at Matawai, the old coach road via Motu (only in good weather; hard going) can be followed. An attractive trail, the Otoko Walkway, runs along the Waihuka River between Te Karaka and Rakauroa, following an abandoned railroad line through the dense forest.