New Zealand's '''East Cape''' of the North Island is where the film ''Whale Rider'' was set and filmed. The film portrays the country lifestyle fairly well.
Townships
Waihau Bay
Whangaparaoa Beach
Hicks Bay
Te Araroa
Tikitiki
Ruatoria
Tokomaru Bay
Tolaga Bay
Understand
This area of New Zealand has a reputation for unemployment, poverty and isolation. Those who farm the land often have limited means and though they are able to live off the land and its produce, they are unable to derive a great income from it. Much of the area is multi-owner Maori land, which makes it difficult to obtain development finance. However the cost of living on ancestral land is far less than in the cities, so many Maori choose to live in this part of the country because it is inexpensive and offers a different lifestyle.
Talk
Get in
Take '''State Highway 2''' from Auckland, Tauranga or Wellington. From Rotorua take '''State Highway 30''' or '''State Highway 33''' to the Bay of Plenty coast to meet '''State Highway 2'''. '''State Highway 2''' meets '''State Highway 35''' at Opotiki in the Bay of Plenty and at '''Makaraka''' about 6km from Gisborne in Poverty Bay.
Get around
Follow '''State Highway 35'''. It is the only significant road around the cape and connects most of the significant settlements and all the important side roads.
See
Itineraries
Do
Horse trekking at Rangitukia with Eastender Horse Treks, [http://www.eastenderhorsetreks.co.nz/].
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Eastender Backpackers. 76A Rangitukia Road, Rangitukia. urn east off State Highway 35 at Tikitiki and drive 8 km"
phone="06 8643820" email="eastenderbackpackers@xtra.co.nz" fax="06 8643042" checkin="" checkout=""
price="Adult $23, child $18" url="http://www.eastenderhorsetreks.co.nz/accom.htm"></sleep>
Stay safe
Get out