Timing

The track crosses private land and may periodically be closed. Seek local advice or contact DoC Gisborne before attempting the walk as it is often wet and slippery.

Access

From SH35 14 km north of Tolaga Bay and 23 km south of Tokomaru Bay, turn into Anaura Road. Follow it to the beach, where it veers left and becomes unsealed. After it crosses a small creek, there is a kiosk with an information panel.

The walk starts from a stile opposite the campsite (no toilets and only open October-April).

Anaura Bay also has a motor camp.

Track

The track crosses private land and may periodically be closed. Seek local advice or contact DoC Gisborne before attempting the walk as it is often wet and slippery. The track is reasonably well-formed, but single file for its length. There is no smoking along the walk. The reserve covers 225 hectares of steep bush and scrub covered ridges.

For the first 25 minutes the track skirts the forest, passing through streamside paddocks. Follow the posts and cross a stile that follows a narrow valley to your right.

You are now in a verdant shaded stream catchment with steep banks. The track cris-crosses the stream numerous times.

Through this section the vegetation is lush with hues of green of ferns and lichens. Fantails flit cheerfully between perches and the echoes of bird call are everywhere. Sightings of tui, bell bird and kereru are pleasingly frequent in the puriri and kahikatea canopy. The mixed broadleaf forest below contains ngaio, titoki and kohekohe.

After 30 minutes the track starts to climb out of the watershed, skirting pine forest. Cross a footbridge then climb steeply through the pines. Take care following the marker posts, as occasionally the track becomes poorly formed through the long grass.

On exiting the pines, there are outstanding views of the golden sand of Anaura Bay and Motuoroi island.

At the summit of the second ridge, where the breakers become audible, turn sharp right and descend the grass bank. The track finally enters native forest and exits approximately 300 metres further up the road from the starting point.

European History

On 20th October 1769 Captain Cook and the crew of Endeavour visited Anaura Bay. Cook named it Tegadoo Bay, possibly a misinterpretation of Te ngaru, meaning ‘the breakers’. To Maori it was known as Anaura.

No doubt inquisitive about the strange vessel’s arrival, Endeavour was immediately surrounded by canoes of curious observers. Cook noticed the chiefly attire of two men and proffered an invitation aboard. A gift of linen initiated good relations, furthered by Cook’s Tahitian interpreter explaining the nature of their visit was peaceful.

The following day, Endeavour’s botanists, Banks and Solander, rowed ashore to collect plant specimens and ‘to shoot some most beautiful birds’. Local villagers conducted a tour of the houses and gardens, which they noted as being well kept. Sweet potato, cocos (yams) and taro were the predominant crops

Doctor Monkhouse, another scientist aboard Endeavour, was also impressed the gardens were weed free. This was the first opportunity to make detailed observations of a Maori village and the ‘educated’ crew made full use of the conviviality. They were entertained to a substantial meal including lobster, which Banks noted weighed 11 pounds, and were ‘certainly the largest and the best I have ever eat’. Roots and bread accompanied the cray fish. In return for the hospitality, Dr. Monkhouse passed round his brandy flask. To his surprise his hosts seemed to enjoy the taste.