Dramatic Waioeka Gorge over the years Detour 09 HD 1080p
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- čas přidán 12. 11. 2023
- Looking at the Waioeka Gorge from formation to today. Formed out of hard Urewera Greywacke Rock by the relentless action of water running out of the ranges down to the sea, carving, cutting, its way down to shape this formidable intrusion into the hinterland. It has created a spectacular, remote, fortress-like gorge that dramatically changes due to the weather and seasons experienced here.
It was inhabited first by birdlife, varied, beautiful and plentiful. Then years later discovered by Māori, who used it to access the interior, but also as a place of refuge after battles or in times of tribal and colonial invasions. Back then the river bed was the main track, so it would have been extremely hazardous in times of high-water flow.
Back in 1906, Land settlement was attempted, but from 1920 on was mostly abandoned due to the difficult farming conditions. Today there is only a little farming and some pine plantations to show for all the hard work of those early settlers. You can see some of that early activity on the popular Tauranga walk, a 5.3k 80-minute stroll across the old Tauranga bridge, and up around the valley. It is an ideal spot to break your journey.
In 1912 an early road was started, very rough and initially just a horse track, it was widened for car travel in 1929, and the current sealed road was started in 1950 and finished 12 years later in 1962. The nature and size of the terrain mean that keeping this road open is a constant battle with slips and slumps which frequently close it even today.
This is considered one of New Zealand’s finest scenic river drives, you can see why as you travel through bush-covered hills looking down upon a beautiful, rugged river.
One rural activity that the Waioeka Gorge has seen plenty of, is droving. This shorter route from Poverty Bay through to the Bay of Plenty and on to the Waikato has seen many a cattle mob and sheep flock wandering their way along. The pace was usually slow, allowing the stock to graze on “the long acre”, to maintain or put on weight before they arrived at the stockyards for sale. For those not familiar with “the long acre”, it is the roadside between the road and the property fence, usually covered in grass which provides free feed to those wandering animals.
When we lived in Whakatane in the late 1970’s early 80’s, I can remember seeing this activity then. Often a ute and caravan were in the front, making sure all the gates were closed and putting a dog on the side roads to direct the stock. Then came the browsing stock, spread out along the roadside. Another drover with a horse and 6 or 8 dogs bringing up the rear and setting the pace. Traffic had to slow to a crawl as they passed through the mob as animals often decided that the grass on the other side was greener just then.
The exit from the gorge is up over Trafford’s Hill, which rises to 725m and here the scenery changes from bush to pastoral farmland as the terrain becomes gentler. Soon we arrive at Matawai, the main township on the Opotiki to Gisborne highway. A great spot for a pie, ice cream or toilet stop, or if you want to explore the area there is accommodation here also.
We trust you enjoyed viewing this Remote Places NZ video, one of our Detour series. Making this one has made me realise here in New Zealand we often take the beauty we live amongst for granted. In 2 relatively small islands we have an incredible range of sights, make sure you get out and enjoy what New Zealand has to offer.
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Thank you
Dudley Moore
@remoteplacesnz
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“Dream Escape” by The Tides
“Ice & Fire” by R&B Soul
“Stinson” by Reed Mathias
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Spent every Friday ND Sunday coasting this gorge. After school mum would pick me up from school (Gisborne) then 8hrs drive to Tauranga, head back with dad to gizzy on Sunday arvo in the rotation back to boarding school. Thank you for bringing an ol dog some long lost memories.
Churr🤙
Many thanks from the UK.
Thanks Dudley! That brought back memories; at one point of my employment I used to travel the complete circuit SH 35 around to Opotiki then back to Gisborne every fortnight, paying the road workers employed on the road construction.
Stunning!
Keep the videos coming please
My English grandfather and his brother took up a block here, up the Wairata stream, in 1909. It was heartbreaking, backbreaking work. They went to Gallipoli, with several of the boys from the Gorge; only my grandfather returned. My grandmother, the nurse who took care of him, came out from nursing in Malta to marry him and they farmed until they walked off the land until 1927. The babies were born in Opotiki, but were carried home slung over the saddle of their mother's horse, balanced by a bag of sugar. They were remarkable people, the settlers of the Gorge.
Thats an awesome story