Scenic East Cape & Mahia Peninsula
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Scenic East Cape & Mahia Peninsula Friday 8 May - Tuesday 12 May 2020 Journey with us to the easternmost point of New Zealand, the East Cape. On our Scenic East Cape and Mahia Peninsula tour enjoy wonderful views of beautiful beaches, rugged cliffs and wild bush land. We will visit numerous historical sites and learn about our unique and interesting cultural heritage including the landing site of the Arawa Canoe, Hicks Bay, Mahia Peninsula and much more... Day 1 Friday 8 May 2020 so far and is a service town for many outlying HOME CITIES — WHAKATANE (D) valleys. Ruatoria is the centre for the Ngati Departing our home cities this morning, we travel over the Kaimai Ranges to the Porou tribe. Sir Apirana Ngata lived here and Bay of Plenty, named by Captain James Cook in 1769 because of the his memory is perpetuated in the Ngata abundance of water and food as it is today. Our first stop will be Mount Memorial College (he also appears on our $50 Maunganui where you will have a chance to purchase your lunch and stretch notes). As we leave Ruatoria good views can your legs. After out lunch stop, we travel along the new Tauranga Eastern Link generally be seen of Mt Hikurangi, which at toll road through to Maketu to view the landing site of the Arawa canoe, 1754 metres is the highest non-volcanic peak marked now with a stone cairn and plaque depicting the event. We’ll then in North Island and the first place to see the continue along the coastal road through Matata and on to Whakatane. On a fine sun in New Zealand each day. We visit Tokomaru Bay where the remains of day, we’ll have a good view over to White Island, and active marine volcano. the old freezing works which closed down in 1952. While in Tokomaru Bay, we’ll The Whakatane district is steeped in history and culture. The Mataatua canoe enjoy a lunch at the Te Puka Tavern. After lunch, we visit Anaura Bay before landed here and Pa sites from early settlement are identifiable along the coast. arriving at Tologa Bay and the old Wharf area. Walking out along this historic The Maori language and culture is strong and viable with over 40% of the wharf reminds us of the days gone by and the way this was constructed without population being of Maori Heritage. Predominant Iwi in the region include Ngati all the mod cons of today. We continue along this sandy coastline to Gisborne. Awa, Tuhoe, and Te Whakatohea. The region is rich in forestry resources along The Gisborne region has been settled for over 1000 years, although Europeans with dairy farming, fruit growing and market gardening. After a sightseeing tour did not arrive until the late 19th Century when the first whaling station was of Whakatane, we’ll check into our accommodation for the evening. Tonight we’ll established in the area. It was Gisborne however, that Captain Cook made his enjoy a group dinner at the Whakatane RSA. first landfall on New Zealand soil in 1769 naming it Poverty Bay after deciding it Accommodation: Barrington’s Motel, Whakatane — 1 Night had nothing to offer. We visit Cook’s monument and the monument for Nicholas Young the cabin boy and first member of Captain Cook’s ship the Endeavour to Day 2 Saturday 9 May 2020 sight land. We continue with Gisborne city sights before checking into our WHAKATANE — HICKS BAY (BD) overnight accommodation. We’ll enjoy dinner tonight at our hotel. After breakfast this morning, we’ll stop in town for you to purchase your lunch to Accommodation: Quality Emerald Hotel, Gisborne —1 Night enjoy at one of the many scenic areas along the way. Departing Whakatane, we follow the shore line of the Ohiwa Harbour to Opotiki following “The Pathway Day 4 Monday 11 May 2020 to the Sunrise” marked by two large magnificent carved poles. Opotiki is situated GISBORNE – NAPIER (BLD) on a harbour inlet formed by the junction of two rivers, the Waioeka and the We commence our day with a visit to see the Otara on three sides. The region from Ohiwa Harbour in the south and Cape Eastwood Hill Arboretum in all its autumn Runaway in the North has a sparse population of only 9200 people. We follow splendour. We then continue on our way the coastline following State Highway 35 passing numerous bays and beaches traversing the Whararata range to Mahia to Te Kaha. This area is developing with its micro climate and is now a Peninsula. This is a diamond shaped isthmus prosperous kiwifruit growing area which in turn creates more employment for the 5 kilometres long with its crescent shaped locals. We then move on through Waihau Bay before Whangaparoa and beach to the south and sheltered beach on crossing Cape Runaway to Hicks Bay and our overnight stop. Tonight we’ll the north side. Backtracking out to Nuhaka enjoy a group dinner at our motel. and then onto Wairoa, which is the northern most town of the Hawkes Bay Accommodation: Hicks Bay Motel, Hicks Bay —1 Night region with a population of 9000 for the region. The town is split by the vast Wairoa River and the old Portland Island lighthouse from Mahia, which has been Day 3 Sunday 10 May 2020 restored and now sits alongside the town’s third bridge. Early settlement in the HICKS BAY — GISBORNE (BLD) area included a whaling station and trading post dealing largely in flax. Today Leaving Hicks Bay from the top of the hill, we’ll enjoy views of the East Cape Wairoa is a manufacturing and farming service town. Departing Wairoa we beyond Te Araroa. Here we visit the world’s largest standing Pohutakawa continue our journey through Northern Hawkes Bay passing by Lake Tutira. On tree (Te Waha o Rerekohu). We visit the township of Ruatoria, the largest town this route, when approaching Bay View, we pass the Whirinaki pulp and paper since leaving Opotiki. Ruatoria offers facilities not found in other coastal towns mill where Pan Pac was established in 1971. In 2007 Pan Pac became wholly owned by Oji Paper, one of the largest pulp and paper producers in Japan. Over Price Amendments 220,000 tonnes of thermo-mechanical wood pulp is produced annually and Prices were correct at the time and date of printing, however Leisure Time shipped from the Port of Napier to Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, where Oji Tours reserves the right to amend the price subject to any changes in price Paper has a large paper manufacturing plant. On arrival in Napier, we’ll check in imposed by other tour operators and carriers included in the itinerary. to our accommodation on Marine Parade. Tonight we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner at the Napier RSA. *Guaranteed Twin Share Prices Accommodation: Quality Hotel Napier – 1 night Our Guaranteed Twin Share price is available for those passengers willing to share with another single traveller of the Day 5 Tuesday 12 May 2020 NAPIER— HOME CITIES (B) same gender. If there isn’t another passenger of the same After breakfast this morning, we’ll enjoy a gender to share with we GUARANTEE our twin share price. Leisure Times sightseeing tour of Napier, viewing the Art Deco Tours accepts no responsibility for the compatibility of passengers travelling buildings, the Port, and Ahuriri. We then depart under this arrangement. If someone is not compatible with the person they Napier and travel north through the Esk Valley and have been matched up with, all additional costs incurred to assist with over the Titiokura Saddle at about 2,200ft. It then changing their room type to a guaranteed single room will be at the climbs 1,000ft over the Turangakumu Range, and traveller’s expense and will be subject to availability. Acceptance of a through the southern end of the huge Kaiangaroa guaranteed twin share basis is subject to the individual’s medical condition Forest to cross the wide pumice plateau of the Kaiangaroa Plains on our way to being suitable for this type of arrangement. Taupo, where we have our lunch stop, before continuing our homeward journey. Payments, Cancellations and Refunds A non refundable deposit is required on booking to confirm your seat. All Leisure Time Tours balance payments must be received by Leisure Time Tours prior to the date specified as per itinerary or your confirmation invoice. Payments are available to be made by Cash, Cheque, Direct Credit or EFTPOS only – Experience the difference... 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