East Cape (Ngati Porou), Aotearoa New Zealand
Tatapouri Bay
About this stay
Tatapouri Bay is a beachfront campground and cabin park on the coast road just north of Gisborne, at the southern end of the drive up the East Coast. It offers powered and non-powered campsites, glamping tents, small cabins, a tiny home and little villas, with a beachfront café, sunrise yoga and stingray tours in the bay. The team puts an emphasis on conservation and community. It suits families, campers and couples who want an outdoorsy, affordable stay by the sea.
Good for
About East Cape (Ngati Porou)
The East Cape, or Tairāwhiti, is the rugged bulge of land between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne, traced by State Highway 35 for roughly 330 kilometres. It suits self-sufficient travellers who want long empty beaches, small settlements and real distance from crowds. Compared with the Bay of Islands or Rotorua there are few organised attractions, limited services and long stretches between towns, which is much of its appeal.
Getting there
Gisborne Airport (GIS) has Air New Zealand flights from Auckland and Wellington. From there the coast road heads north. Coming from the Bay of Plenty side, Ōpōtiki is about two hours' drive from Rotorua, and the full loop around the cape takes at least two unhurried days.