Posted by Christine Meredith on Apr 06, 2021
This year with no overseas travel on the cards my daughter and I decided to do a road trip up the East Coast.  She had never been there and I had not driven that route since mid-1960s.  So a chance for us to connect with our NZ lives.
 
On a cold wet day in February we started out. First stop, a stop at the top of the Remutuka Hill where we seldom stop. Next stop Featherston, and decision to go to Lake Ferry for lunch. A decision that we would investigate parts unseen, over lunch a discussion about a possible stay another time. NO accommodation available. Why holiday in February?  Anyway on to Eketahuna and a leg stretching time in the rain. A great little place, wish we could have stayed there too. Cold rain continues as I try to contact a nephew who farms in Pahiatua, they are not contactable. Drive on. Bypass Woodville as I regale my daughter about motocross exploits as a 15 year old and riding through the Manawatu Gorge. Shudders from said daughter! A drive through Norsewood, gone years ago since the bypass went through. On to Dannevirke, and our first overnight stop. We got the second to last motel unit there and only KFC or Maccas open for meals at 7pm. Heartland NZ as I remembered it. A chance to look around in the rain before heading for Hastings Napier.
Now we find out about lack of accommodation which was to dog us the entire trip! Lunch in Napier tick, accommodation NON left. While having lunch a chance to find accommodation so look online further north towards Wairoa. No beds. At lunch no way we were prepared to drive to where accommodation was (Gisborne). So we went across to Taupo. Managed that in the windy rain and just before the road was closed. Trees down across the road.
 
Taupo! Somewhere to sleep 3 nights. Did the touristy things like a lake cruise to see the sculpture in the lake. One trip each day only. Saw Glassblowing and the Aratiatia Rapids and Huka falls.
 
On to Orakei Korako for a lovely walk and photos on our way to Rotorua. Once again finding somewhere to stay not easy. It’s all those who are waiting a permanent home. Most motels now not taking walk ins. Trips to the Buried Village, Whakawerawera (discussion with a local re the pronunciation aka Whaka NOT Foka), a lake cruise, Ohinemutu and Redwood Forest above ground walk.  Hells Gate visit on our way to Whakatane
 
Managed a couple of nights in Whakatane and able to do a flight over Mount Tarawera and White Island. Enough to just show the photos taken.  A discussion with the pilot who had been flying customers over White Island when it had erupted, but she had never set foot on it. There was me beside her and had landed there. Trips around to see the local sights, both of us saying that we could possibly live in Whakatane.
 
Onwards around the coast road. Hoping for beds, Not available anywhere. Stops at Opotaki, also Te Kaha, and Te Aroha. Such a beautiful drive around this area. But with no ability to get accommodation a very long day drive through to Gisborne. Daughter on the internet trying to get beds, only one free for use was $1500 a night. At 7.30pm we were able to get 1 night only in a cabin at the camping ground. Not able to stay in Gisborne we decided to head on the Napier. A discussion with the next cabin guys (motor bikers from PN and they had had the same trouble getting a bed). 
 
Options were drive to Masterton or Palmerston North. We chose PN, stop off in Woodville, Saddle Road (never driven over it before), Ashhurst to PN and then home as we went into level 2 lockdown.
 
A great trip, wish the summer sunshine had been better and able to get accommodation. Next time, book first before travelling. Would do it again.