So last week Anna said to me “This weekend’s labour weekend what should we do”?
J: “How about a road trip?”
A: “How about The East Cape?”
J: “Sure why not, never been there”.

10 minutes later we were getting together the camping gear. Being married young with no kids has it’s perks

If you have ever been to the east cape (or seen the movie “Boy”), you will know exactly what I mean when I say that the landscape along the coast is just another a world.
The coastline is framed by huge cliffs, mountain ranges and pure streams that remind you of South Island documentaries.
The sea close to shore almost looks like goody goody gumdrops (without the gumdrops).
Every school/church/Marae you pass is framed with some of the most beautiful Maori carvings I’ve seen anywhere the country.
If the south island is known for it’s sheep, the east cape is known for it’s horses! I’m from the Waikato so the sight of horses in every paddock, being ridden by the locals, and just wondering around is just bizarre for me.

Anyway I couldn’t resist taking my camera along for the ride. Unfortunately I couldn’t capture it all but I hope this gives you a taste for some of the less seen beauty our country has to offer.

One of the great highlight’s for me was being one of the first people in the world to see the Sun on Sunday morning (the other 10 or so were German and Japanese tourists). This is the sunrise time lapse shot by the lighthouse. And incase your wondering about the church, it was erected in memory of the WW2 Maori Battalion, in a tiny little place called Tikitiki.

Hope you enjoy.
Jono

Enjoy
Jono