You can take SH2 from Whakatane to Gisborne, but you’d miss out a remarkable part of New Zealand if you did. SH35, for the most part, hugs the coastline of the East Cape, the most easterly part of New Zealand. Our first stop along the road is the Anglican Church at Raukokore. What a beautiful building this church is. It stands overlooking the bay and its white simplicity makes it quite stunning. This church was used in the film ‘BOY’.

Our overnight stop was in Waihau Bay at the Waihau Bay Lodge. There are some amazing rocks here. Sailors & fishermen have to navigate the waters carefully here.

Further along SH35 you arrive at Hicks Bay where we take a little detour down a narrow road to Onepoto Bay. A gorgeous horseshoe bay where the sea is the colour of pounamu.

Coffee that morning was in Te Araroa at the Twilight Cafe. Great flat white and very tasty fruit cake. It is here that you can find New Zealand’s oldest Pohutukawa Tree – Te Waha O Rerekohu. He is 350+ years old and 40m around at the widest point. Even though the gorgeous bright red flowers that herald Christmas have gone, this is still a magnificent tree.

We continue along SH35 to Tikitiki where we stop at St. Mary’s Church. This is such a special place. St. Mary’s serves at a memorial to the Maori men on the East Coast who fought and died in the First World War. It was built in the 1920s at the instigation of Ngati Porou leader Apirana Ngata. The spectacular interior showcases Maori carving, kowhaiwhai designs and tukutuku panels. The detail is breath taking.

We continue south through Ruatoria, Te Puia Springs and Tokomaru Bay and we finally arrive at Anaura Bay where we stay at a DoC campsite for the night.

As we travel further south we stop at Tolaga Bay, where we visit the longest wharf in the Southern Hemisphere. Not a brilliant day for a long walk on a wharf over stormy seas but hey ho! It is 600m long and has withstood the ravages of the sea and the wind since 1929.

Our final stop on SH35 is Gisborne. It is the main city of the East Cape. It’s known for wineries, surfing and sun.

What an absolute pleasure it was driving around the East Cape on SH35. It has a very unique feel to it. It is rugged, beautiful and the first place in NZ to see the sunrise of a new day. We loved it.