charter fleet from WhakatƗne. There
have been many eruptions and
volcanic activity from lahar flows, ash
and sulphur belches and tremors,
throughout recorded history. The last
major activity being in 2013, which
spewed mainly steam, yet the activity
remains a constant reminder to visiting
tourists of the awesome power of
nature.
There are volcanic formations all
around WhakatƗne, creating a primeval
and ancient feel to a simply gorgeous
landscape.THE SWEETWATER
When you leave the coastal plain
and enter the mountains you will yet
again feel like Frodo on an intrepid
venture through the Misty Mountains,
or perhaps Fanghorn Forest. The
steep, ancient hills are smattered with
tree fern gully’s leading to pristine
freshwater rivers, lakes and streams.
There lay the legendary strongholds
of the famous NZ trout and salmon
fishery. Simply driving through the
winding mountain roads gives you
glimpses of magnificent streams with
deep gentle pools followed by tumbling
rapids where every fly flicker and lure
caster salivates at all the opportunities.
There’s many hidden treasuresin the mountain fishery; including
bushwalking, farm stay, chalet and
camping options, and even helicopter
guided tours, depending on your style
and budget. The region has a large
number of guides and I suggest that it
would be a good idea to maximise your
time in this flicker’s wonderland. Sea-
run trout can be caught in season, in
all of the lower reaches of the rivers, for
those less adventurous or mobile.
Other nearby waterways include the
RangitƗiki and Tarawera River to the
north-west and the beautiful Ohiwa
Harbour and Ohope Beach — just a
hop, skip and jump to the east, over
the WhakatƗne headland. The beach
and harbour are separated by a giant
sandspit that supports the town of
Ohope. It is famous for many miles
of beautiful beaches for surfing,
swimming, kitesurfing or just simply
soaking up a sun tan. It’s also a popular
destination for those who are into
“birding”, as the Spring migration
heralds large numbers of wading birds
and local species from their arctic
breeding grounds, at any given time.MORE THAN JUST FISHING
If you are a hunter and gatherer, it
seems your freezers will never be
empty in WhakatƗne. The regionCLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Walking the Nga
Tapuwae o Toi track is worth it for the
incredible views; sport fishing is a popular
past-time; Bear was suitably impressed
with his foul hooked striped tuna.58 tradeaboat.com.au