Eastland (Mataatua & Tairawhiti), New Zealand
 Enchanting
landscapes and ancient stories
Eastland is the place where the first Polynesian migration
canoes landed, where Captain Cook made his first landfall and where Maori
and European first encountered each other.
Maori life is evident in every settlement you see. There
are carved meeting houses, beautifully painted Maori churches, children
riding horses bareback on the beach and conversations in Te Reo. Deep
in the misty Te Urewera Ranges, descendents of the ‘Children of
the Mist’, the ancient Tuhoe tribe, still live in harmony with the
forest around the village of Ruatahuna.
| |
| Like
other marae throughout the North Island, the beautiful
Pakirikiri Marae at Tokomaru Bay often welcomes visitors
who want to find out about Maori culture, performance
art and history. Nearly all Maori people have a marae
they call home, even if they live hundreds of kilometres
away. |
|
Photo
byScott Venning (scottv@ihug.co.nz) |
| Click
on the image for larger version |
|
The landscape – coastal and inland - is untamed
and wild. You can lose yourself in the hills and valleys, and renew your
inner peace on the beautifully natural beaches.
The largest population centre in the region is Gisborne,
a city that manages to combine the science of fine wine making with the
laid back, down-to-earth attitude of life in the sun.
Key Features
Te Urewera National Park.
Within its boundaries, Te Urewera National Park encloses Lake Waikaremoana
and the largest untouched native forest in the North Island. The Urewera
region is home to the Tuhoe people, (The Children of the Mist).
Gisborne – the chardonnay city.
Gisborne is Eastland’s biggest population centre
and the first city in the world to see the sunrise each day. Known as
the "Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand", Gisborne produces premium
white wines.
Tolaga Bay Wharf.
The touring route that follows State Highway 35 takes you to spectacular
coastal scenery, with many interesting cultural highlights along the way.
The historic Tolaga Bay Wharf, built in 1936, is 660 metres long.
|
