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James Cook Plaza, Poverty Bay, GisborneFlowers of the pohutukawa treeInner harbour, GisborneGisborne & surroundsStretching out into the Pacific Ocean, thelittle-visited and unspoilt eastern coast harbourssome of New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery.Here the Pacific Coast Highway hugs the shore allthe way from Opotiki to Te Araroa, and passesthrough tunnels of ancient pohutukawa forest,tiny settlements rich in Maori culture, andspectacular, deserted bays. Gisborne, the country’smost easterly city, is renowned for its long hoursof sunshine and fertile plains which produce manysubtropical fruits and some of the country’s bestChardonnays. The inland driving route back toOpotiki climbs steadily up to the village ofMatawai, then plunges into the magnificentWaioeka River Gorge, which runs back down tothe Pacific Ocean.Raukokore Church, East CapeKnapdale Eco Lodge, GisborneProviding the perfect combination of greataccommodation and a warm welcome, KnapdaleEco Lodge offers a real working farm experience.Completed in 2004, the main lodge is just part ofthe owners’ dream to create an outstanding, safeand ecologically sustainable tourism venture.Winners of the 2006 North Island Farm Foresterof the Year Award, the owners continue to investhuge efforts into planting indigenous trees thatare attractive to native birds. You are encouragedHeritage and historyGisborne, set on Poverty Bay, is the first cityin the world to greet the rising sun each day,and this spectacular coastal region is rich inboth Maori and European settler history,making it a fascinating place to visit. In 1769Captain Cook’s ship Endeavour made landfallhere and the Young Nick’s Head promontorywas named for the ship’s cabin boy, NicholasYoung, who reputedly was the first to seeland. Captain Cook named the region PovertyBay because ‘it did not afford a single articlewe wanted, except a little firewood’. ManyMaori tribal battles also took place in the areain the past, the most notable of which wasthe uprising of the Maori prophet Te Kootito wander around the grounds to see thechickens, sheep, cattle and deer, and assist withfeeding or planting. There are just two guestrooms in the lodge so you can enjoy a wonderfullypeaceful stay, and with a large lounge, dining anddeck area the rest of the lodge provides amplespace for relaxation. The grounds also house asignificant Maori pa site (a traditionally fortifiedvillage), giving guests the opportunity to learnmore about the history and culture of thesurrounding area.Depiction of Captain Cook’s arrival in New Zealandwho led a rebellion against European settlersin the 1860s. Today the area is prosperoussheep and cattle country, and lush withorchards and vineyards.Knapdale Eco Lodge, Gisbornewww.audleytravel.com/newzealand l 01993 838 820 l North Island 21