FREEWHEELING ON THE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY
When I first arrived as an import from the South Island, ‘hybrid vigour’ my husband used to say about me. The east coast of the North Island is now my backyard, but as is so often the way, I’ve travelled the rest of New Zealand and the world before exploring my own neighbourhood.
For this road trip, we opted for a selfcontained JUCY campervan so we could freewheel without any fixed itinerary – my definition of heaven. Out east, it’s quieter and more laid back than the tourism hot spots of New Zealand. Some days, you might be the only car on the road.
Start your east coast road trip in Wairoa and follow the Pacific Coast Highway, via Gisborne all the way to Opotiki with quite a few deviations on the way. This is a comparatively remote part of New Zealand where you will find exquisite deserted beaches, rustic little towns, pristine lakes and colourful characters who seldom go near a city.
Lake Waikaremoana, the ‘Sea of Rippling Waters’ in Te Urewera National Park, is just one hour inland from Wairoa
