View Full Version : Photovan does Waikaremoana
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:09pm
I'm busy sorting through 400 images right now [ 2 days worth ] , I'll try to post one image per comment so I don't clog the thread with images ....
Yesterday I left Raglan in my 'photovan' (http://thephotovan.blogspot.com/) and headed through Rotorua and down to Lake Waikaremoana .
It's been 5 years since I was on that road and this picture should tell you why ...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901001.jpg
95km of winding gravel roads ... the first time I did it was in an old Toyota 1300 and I got tired of the slow journey and started going faster around the corners until I was so car-sick I had to pull over and sleep in the back of my car 45km from the lake .
The second time I took sea-sick medication to make it easier and got a little drowsy and crashed into the side of another car on a bend .....
After that I swore I would never go on that road again but now that I have my van and stop often to take photos it makes it easier and I must say the journey was pleasant in comparison to the times I was in a hurry to finish the trip .
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:14pm
It's not like I was expecting to get petrol here - I just thought it was an interesting building ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901002.jpg
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Rather you than me, the Great Ocean Road is bad enough. :eek:
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:17pm
And further down the road they make sure you know what you are letting yourself in for ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901005.jpg
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DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:19pm
Rather you than me, the Great Ocean Road is bad enough. :eek:
It wasn't too bad this time - I was prepared for it .... psychologically :D
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:24pm
Because I was in 'cruise mode' I took my time and actually went down a few side roads when the opportunity arose and got a few snaps here and there ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901022.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:27pm
The winding road through a dirty windscreen ...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901027.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:31pm
I couldn't have done this without the Tokina 11-16 lens
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901032.jpg
Analog6
20-06-2010, 12:35pm
Nice to hear from you again here, Des. I spent most of May over on the south island, I found myself longing for my van, I sure wish there was some way to take cars over there for a holiday.
I struck some winding roads but not dirt ones and certainly not 95km of them in a stretch! Nice shots, very autumnal/wintery feel to them.
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:37pm
Then I stopped for a few shots next to this open area - you get tired of being closed in with nowhere to pull over when you're driving - there were a few spots I would have liked to have taken pictures but there was nowhere safe to stop .
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901039.jpg
Then the horse walks up and says "nice lens!"
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901046.jpg
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DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:42pm
Nice to hear from you again here, Des. I spent most of May over on the south island, I found myself longing for my van, I sure wish there was some way to take cars over there for a holiday.
I struck some winding roads but not dirt ones and certainly not 95km of them in a stretch! Nice shots, very autumnal/wintery feel to them.
I'd love to spend more time on the South Island - maybe in the future sometime !
Maybe I should have called this "the waterfall tour" because there were plenty of them - this was the first lot ...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901057.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:46pm
it had a name ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901060.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 12:54pm
And this is the first glimpse of lake Waikaremoana ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901075.jpg
I'm sitting here in a motel [ maybe I'm getting soft ? ] looking through the pictures and the sun has just popped out outside so I'll leave it at that for now and come back in a few hours .... with more images to go through [sigh!] .
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Great shots
I drove that road 30 years ago (with a boat on behind!! ) and found the scenery as you got closer to the lake spectacular .
Have also spent lots of time boating /fly fishing on the lake , miss those yummy trout.
Its got to be one of the prettiest , and then, undiscovered spots in NZ.
Looking forward to more photos
I love these kind of roads and will go a long way out of my journey to do them, and your piccys show why, I love them all and would dearly like to do that road, maybe one day, your tyres are running a bit low as well, bump them up to 45psi rear and 35psi front, you'll find the Hi-ace will handle a lot better and use less juice, we have a camper the same model and love it to bits!
A great series, really like the composition of the 4th!
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 1:45pm
Great shots
I drove that road 30 years ago (with a boat on behind!! ) and found the scenery as you got closer to the lake spectacular .
Have also spent lots of time boating /fly fishing on the lake , miss those yummy trout.
Its got to be one of the prettiest , and then, undiscovered spots in NZ.
Looking forward to more photos
I've walked the 53km around the lake before - in winter , it snowed for about 30 seconds one night !
I love these kind of roads and will go a long way out of my journey to do them, and your piccys show why, I love them all and would dearly like to do that road, maybe one day, your tyres are running a bit low as well, bump them up to 45psi rear and 35psi front, you'll find the Hi-ace will handle a lot better and use less juice, we have a camper the same model and love it to bits!
Sounds like good advice ! I'm only getting 7 1/2 k's to the litre in this thing !
A great series, really like the composition of the 4th!
Thanks !
.
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 1:49pm
Did I mention the word "dangerous" when I said "narrow winding roads " ?
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901082.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 1:52pm
It's always a little nerve-wracking looking back at the van and wondering how good the park-brake is and how stable that piece of land jutting out from the cliff face is .
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901091.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 2:00pm
Valleys and greenery all over ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901098.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 2:04pm
Then you come around the corner and there's another waterfall ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901107.jpg
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beautiful country, great shots, very pleasant to look upon! thanks for posting.
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 2:17pm
beautiful country, great shots, very pleasant to look upon! thanks for posting.
Thanks - it is a very scenic area!
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 2:23pm
At this point I took out the 70-200 lens ...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD902025.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD902026.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD902031.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD902033.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD902045.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 2:32pm
a 7 1/2 ton trailer used in the construction of the power station ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901112.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 2:37pm
After booking in at the camping ground I took a walk to a smaller lake nearby .
The path was quite bushy .
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901124.jpg
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DesmondD
20-06-2010, 2:43pm
There is a small hut where the track comes to the lake [ Waikareite I think it was called ? ]
There are also some boats you can pre-book for paddling to the islands .
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901137.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 2:49pm
A few along the way ...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901153.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901151.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901168.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 2:54pm
And then I went for another walk to another waterfall ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901183.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 3:00pm
It was the "Aniwaniwa falls" , and there were two of them - another one lower down
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901184.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 3:05pm
And then I drove up the road to the Papakorito falls ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901203.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 3:12pm
Another shot across the lake looking at the ridge
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD901211.jpg
oh mate you got me drooling, how do I teach my camper to swim
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 3:31pm
One from the D40 and 35mm lens
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD40002.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 3:31pm
oh mate you got me drooling, how do I teach my camper to swim
I have a few more days of my tour to go :)
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 3:38pm
And a few from the D50 and 18-105 lens before I sign off since this ends the first day of the tour ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD50011.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD50016.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD50022.jpg
DesmondD
20-06-2010, 4:06pm
not a bad first day!
Better than nothing I suppose :)
Congratulations, you've done very well. I'll agree that some of our remote roads are not the place for a careless driver. But it does encourage you to look around.
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 10:08am
Congratulations, you've done very well. I'll agree that some of our remote roads are not the place for a careless driver. But it does encourage you to look around.
there were a couple of close calls today with logging trucks and long loads on twists and turns ....
Well I'm at a campsite in Ohope now [ easier to pronounce ] and going through some more pictures .
I'm in a more civilized part of the country now and there is wireless broadband at the site .
Yesterdays sunset ...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_4698.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_4712.jpg
" The fishermen "
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_4664.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 10:39am
Since I have so many pictures to go through I'll save the story for my photovan blog (http://thephotovan.blogspot.com/2010/01/2212010-in-october-2007-i-was-going-to.html) and just post images here .... one at a time ...
From the D50 ...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD50085.jpg
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DesmondD
22-06-2010, 10:43am
This scene has potential I think
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD50101.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 10:46am
Just after sunset
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD50107.jpg
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DesmondD
22-06-2010, 10:50am
The motel at Lottin point
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD50134.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 10:52am
The D50 and 18-105 got quite a bit of use these last few days ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD50140.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 10:55am
A few from the 70-200 ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD902056-1.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 10:56am
My van at the lake Waikaremoana campsite
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD902080-1.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 10:58am
I call him "Woolworth" [ the classy sheep on "Hoodwinked" ] , he was smart enough not to get wet in the rain .....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiD902097-1.jpg
Nice take on the Tolaga bay wharf did you go on into Cooks cove?
I love the area from Hicks bay on , some beautiful scenery up there . Looking forward to more photos.
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 11:10am
And to think - this was the speedo at the beginning of my tour !
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zwaiF31002.jpg
the number is quite different now and After all this sitting around I'm going to log off now and go for a walk on the beach ... it's about 30 seconds from where I'm sitting :)
I'll just leave you with one more of yesterday- while I was chasing the sunrise
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2529.jpg
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DesmondD
22-06-2010, 11:12am
Nice take on the Tolaga bay wharf did you go on into Cooks cove?
I love the area from Hicks bay on , some beautiful scenery up there . Looking forward to more photos.
Yep , I did the walk to Cooks Cove - very nice - ended up with mud on my knee with the slippery wet grass :) . I'm going for a walk on the beach and will come back and upload the pictures of the cove !
is Waikaremoana campsite a freebie or is there a cost?, I'm a mad keen free camper, love the new piccies by the way!
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 12:38pm
is Waikaremoana campsite a freebie or is there a cost?, I'm a mad keen free camper, love the new piccies by the way!
There is a cost - I think it was about $12 for me for the night .
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:04pm
A building in Gisborne
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2520.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:07pm
Breakfast stop
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2582.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:10pm
The lookout on the walk to Cook's Cove
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2604.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:11pm
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2596.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:14pm
Near Cook's Cove is this rather uniquely named "Hole in the wall " ;)
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2610.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:17pm
The roof has a nice pattern on it
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2621.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:20pm
And a wide shot of Tolaga bay ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2653.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:23pm
The wharf at Tokomaru bay - in both directions
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2706.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2707.jpg
fantastic, I love the perspective on these, it draws me in
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:28pm
The things I like most about Tokomaru bay is the old buildings next to the wharf - I could spend hours there in the right lighting
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2722.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:29pm
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2728.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:31pm
fantastic, I love the perspective on these, it draws me in
That's why I love this Tokina 11-16 lens :)
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:32pm
These old buildings tell many tales ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2731.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:33pm
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2732.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:35pm
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2735.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:37pm
This old hunk of junk has been there for a while ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2739.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:38pm
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2749.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 1:46pm
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2756.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 2:04pm
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2776.jpg
very interesting set mate, the poor old vauxhall didn't stand a chance
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 2:39pm
very interesting set mate, the poor old vauxhall didn't stand a chance
Not in New Zealand :confused013
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 3:01pm
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zDSC_2740.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 3:04pm
From earlier today - you can see me standing on the roof of my van :)
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zohope021.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 3:07pm
And those deep grooves are where I got stuck and had to dig myself out !
The ground looked solid and there were other tyre tracks there [ obviously a 4 wheel drive ] and I just went straight down as I hit the soft stones ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zohope033.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 3:09pm
Tonight's sunset was rather lame ....
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zohope050.jpg
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 3:11pm
While I was sitting in the van going through the pictures I looked across at the office - and ended up asking them to unlock the pool area for me for a few shots
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zohope068.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m300/dvdowns/Waikaremoana/zohope065.jpg
.
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 5:16pm
I just processed my videos done with the helmet cam mounted on the dash .
here's a reasonably scenic one of the drive to Wairau bay - [ 2 1/2 min ]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYETcKZyjQQ
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fantastic stuff, you're very clever!
DesmondD
22-06-2010, 5:31pm
fantastic stuff, you're very clever!
Thanks - the new lens really helped a lot .
I think that should be Waihau bay in your vid clip. Wairau bay is on lake Rotoiti:D
Des this is a really good series that has captured the Beauty of the East cape , a part of NZ that's not that well known. The new bits are working a treat!!.
DesmondD
23-06-2010, 9:44am
I think that should be Waihau bay in your vid clip. Wairau bay is on lake Rotoiti:D
Des this is a really good series that has captured the Beauty of the East cape , a part of NZ that's not that well known. The new bits are working a treat!!.
I always get the names all mixed up !
DesmondD
23-06-2010, 3:49pm
Today I donned my helmet cam and me and my mate who lives in Rotorua had a race down the luge .... plenty of crashing and pushing :)
The video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOYNYHek-Go)
.
Certainly plenty of interesting images in your collection. Definately looks like a area worth visiting. The first one of the wharf on this page works quite well. We spent 2 weeks on the South Island around 12 months ago and I absolutley loved it. Certainly want to come back sometime and see everything we missed out on
DesmondD
28-06-2010, 8:01pm
Certainly plenty of interesting images in your collection. Definately looks like a area worth visiting. The first one of the wharf on this page works quite well. We spent 2 weeks on the South Island around 12 months ago and I absolutley loved it. Certainly want to come back sometime and see everything we missed out on
That's my next goal - two weeks on the SI :)
The scenery down there is amazing but I'm concerned I may not want to come home :D
annainoz
05-07-2010, 10:02pm
LOVE your photos .. got some beauties there. Also the commentary telling us about the trip to .. which I think is important and some folk often forget.
Can't go back and tell you which pics I like most .. but when you're are high up and looking down at umm Tolaga ? Bay or whatever .. and that long jetty .. and how the bay has some nice ripples on it which stretch quite a way across.
That really long windy road reminds me of when we lived in Cairns Qld and had to get to Atherton so went up the Gillies Highway .. very windy and when a passenger can get wheezy and feel sick .. I found as a driver it didn't effect me but as a passenger it did. Hubby didn't want to go back down that way so had to take a longer route home towards Kuranda and down that way.
I've only been to NZ and that was many years ago when I was 10yo so don't remember any of it. We stayed with my Uncle at the time and he later went on to own a kiwifruit farm.
Great photos and great memories for you, very lucky and talented :) just a bit dodgy driving on that video .. noticed you cut into the right hand lane as you made the right turn lol.
DesmondD
06-07-2010, 4:04am
LOVE your photos .. got some beauties there. Also the commentary telling us about the trip to .. which I think is important and some folk often forget.
Can't go back and tell you which pics I like most .. but when you're are high up and looking down at umm Tolaga ? Bay or whatever .. and that long jetty .. and how the bay has some nice ripples on it which stretch quite a way across.
That really long windy road reminds me of when we lived in Cairns Qld and had to get to Atherton so went up the Gillies Highway .. very windy and when a passenger can get wheezy and feel sick .. I found as a driver it didn't effect me but as a passenger it did. Hubby didn't want to go back down that way so had to take a longer route home towards Kuranda and down that way.
I've only been to NZ and that was many years ago when I was 10yo so don't remember any of it. We stayed with my Uncle at the time and he later went on to own a kiwifruit farm.
Great photos and great memories for you, very lucky and talented :) just a bit dodgy driving on that video .. noticed you cut into the right hand lane as you made the right turn lol.
Thanks :) I get car-sick even when I'm driving so when there are no other cars on the road I use both sides of a windy road to make it as straight as possible :D
Analog6
06-07-2010, 4:47am
Love that wharf. Is there still a loco anywhere around there, or was it taken away? I think that will definitely be on my list for the North Island trip, when I eventually get there.
Is there accommodation there - a hostel or caravan park or anything?
Mary Anne
06-07-2010, 5:53am
Amazing Love them all..
DesmondD
06-07-2010, 6:51am
Love that wharf. Is there still a loco anywhere around there, or was it taken away? I think that will definitely be on my list for the North Island trip, when I eventually get there.
Is there accommodation there - a hostel or caravan park or anything?
Yep , holiday parks everywhere in New Zealand :D
I don't know about the loco - might be worth doing a search though .
Tolaga and Tokomaru Bays are about 50 and 80 km north of Gisborne. There is no railway line up the coast and I,m not aware of any old locos in the area. There are Pubs and motels in most of the population centers up the coast . If you where to do that trip go from the Gisborne end as that gives you the best perspective of the coastal scenery .I believe the road is all sealed now unlike the days when I travelled it twice a week in a truck and trailer.
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