WINTER WONDERLAND

Winter

WONDERLAND Images Whakatāne District Council

It’s winter and the slopes and your snowboard are beckoning, but if you can’t face packing the family and mountains of gear into the car –or you just aren’t a ski bunny – then get away from it all in a place we usually reserve for summer: Whakatāne.

FOR GENERATIONS WHAKATĀNE and its nearby sibling Ōhope have been the great escape for a quintessential Kiwi summer break; the seemingly endless sand of Ōhope beach, the sun, the sea, fish and chips and ice cream. But what anyone who lives there will tell you is that Whakatāne and Ōhope are a fantastic winter retreat, with plenty to do and none of the hustle and bustle of the crowded summer months.

For a start, all the natural beauty that wows us in summer is just as great in winter. You probably won’t be taking a dip in the water, but on a brisk winter day a breakfast at one of Ōhope’s great cafes and a walk along the 11 kilometres of uninterrupted sand is the perfect way to forget your cares and clear your mind. After the early morning dog walkers have done their dash you usually have the beach to yourself, and if you want something a bit more energetic then take the hike up and over the hill from Ōhope’s West End to Ōtarawairere for a magical hidden bay with rock pools to explore and an amazing white sand and shell beach. Time it right with the tide and you can carry on over to Whakatāne via the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi walkway, with some stunning views along the way – and the promise of a good coffee (or something stronger) and some shopping at the other end. A much easier walk is at the other end of Ōhope, close to the Ōpotiki turnoff: the Tauwhare Pā Scenic Reserve is home to one of our oldest pā sites (Tauwhare, which translates to “the village suspended in space”) and offers sweeping views of Ōhope and Ōhiwa harbour; it’s a strangely calming and invigorating place to be on a blustery winter’s morning.

For a day trip with a difference check out Moutohorā/Whale Island, the lush green little jewel that sits just off the coast of Whakatāne. You can join a guided tour of the island sanctuary or kayak around its pristine waters to see the seal, and its array of native flora and fauna is truly stunning – there is even a kiwi colony on the island.

Excellent golf courses that punch way above their weight with divine views and that are at their most serene best in the winter months.

And if birdlife is your thing, then remember that Whakatāne is the kiwi capital of the world – and they have the trademark to prove it! In 1999 eight North Island brown kiwi were found – somewhat unexpectedly as it happens – in the Ōhope Scenic Reserve and this prompted a concerted effort to trap pests and help this little group survive and thrive. They have now grown into the largest brown kiwi colony to be found, well, anywhere, and they are literally right in the backyard of Ōhope; check out the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust website to find out more and also about their kiwi night walks; it’s our national bird, but so many of us know very little about them, so make changing that a part of your Whakatāne trip.

You should also make learning more of the area’s heritage a part of your stay. There is an excellent history trail through the town, while the Whakatāne Museum is free and offers a great, contemporary visitor experience. Check out whakatane.com for other cultural and heritage experiences, but be sure to make the Mataatua Wharenui top of your list. Known locally as The House that Came Home, it was built in 1875 but spent 130 years abroad in exhibitions and on display before being returned to its rightful home and lovingly restored by local iwi Ngāti Awa.

There’s so much to discover in Whakatāne that sometimes it just pays to follow your nose. Without the summer thongs the streets are cool and calm, so wander Whakatāne’s Strand for boutique shops and cafés then along the riverbank before checking out the town’s eateries; they feature great local kai and you’ll soon see why this is called the Bay of Plenty. And don’t forget that there is some of the country’s best fishing to be found in the Eastern Bay – and the snapper bite just as well in winter as they do in summer! And for that matter the greens are just as good year-round too; Whakatāne and Ōhope have excellent golf courses that punch way above their weight with divine views and that are at their most serene best in the winter months, so bring your clubs for a leisurely round. Or two.

Go on, leave the skis in the garage, don’t worry about buying a mountain pass and jostling with the crowds, instead get away from it all in Whakatāne; have the beach to yourself, relax and unwind, and head home with your head cleared and wondering why you don’t do this more often.

WHAKATANE GOLF CLUB

With fast running greens and lush, forgiving fairways, the course offers golfers of all levels a challenging but rewarding 18 holes. Relax afterwards at our lounge bar and restaurant/cafe with tasty home-made snacks and meals. Par 70, 6009m course just 10 minutes from town near the airport.

WHAKATANE GOLF CLUB 181 Golf Links Rd, Paroa ph. 07 308 8117 whakatanegolfclub@gmail.com www.whakatanegolf.com