Pacific Coast Highway Traveller’s Guide

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2008 Traveller's guide to the

Pacific Coast Highway

Wairoa to Napier via Pacific Coast Highway

• Wairoa to Napier via Pacific Coast Highway
• Ohinepaka
• Waihua Turn off
• Mohaka Turn off
• Raupaunga
• Mohaka Bridge
• Kotemaori
• Putorino
• Whirinaki
• State Highway 5 turn off to Taupo via the Thermal Explorer Highway
• Napier

Wairoa to Napier via Pacific Coast Highway

• Kilometres from Napier: 118km

The trip from Wairoa to Napier has several side trips available & is part of the Napier to Wairoa Heritage Trail.  See the Heritage Trails – Napier to Wairoa brochure, available at Wairoa & Napier I-sites.

Ohinepaka

• Kilometres from Wairoa: 12km
• Kilometres from Napier: 106km

From here you can take a detour via the unsealed Cricklewood Road & Putere Road, which takes you past Putere Lakes, Waiau River & the Waihi Hydro Scheme, & scenic reserve before rejoining SH2 at Raupaunga.

Waihua Turn off

• Kilometres from Wairoa: 20km
• Kilometres from Napier: 98km

Travel 1 km off SH2 to Waihua Beach where you will find great picnic & fishing spots.

Mohaka Turn off

• Kilometres from Wairoa: 28km
• Kilometres from Napier: 90km

Mohaka is a small settlement 5km from SH2 & is steeped in history, with Rongo Mai Wahine, the uniquely constructed round hall, which was built in 1885 of pit sawn timber, stands prominently beside the meeting house Te Kahi o te Rangi.  The entrance to the meeting house is flanked by two impressive pair of whale jawbones.

Raupaunga

• Kilometres from Wairoa: 35km
• Kilometres from Napier: 83km

Raupaunga is a small settlement on the highway with an interesting Marae & is a starting point for a detour on unsealed roads back to Wairoa that includes Putere Lakes, Waiau River & the Waihi Hydro Scheme & scenic reserve.

Mohaka Bridge

• Kilometres from Wairoa: 38km
• Kilometres from Napier: 80km

Here this is a picnic area with a view of the spectacular Mohaka Railway Viaduct which was opened in 1937 & is constructed of steel & is 96 metres above river level with a span of 278 metres.

Kotemaori

• Kilometres from Wairoa: 48km
• Kilometres from Napier: 70km

A small settlement.

Putorino

• Kilometres from Wairoa: 58km
• Kilometres from Napier: 60km

This is the midway point between Wairoa & Napier and is the centre of the farming community. It has a large sports complex and the Waikare Hotel with its friendly country hospitality has an interesting display of old photographs.

Whirinaki

• Kilometres from Wairoa: 101km
• Kilometres from Napier: 17km

Whirinaki is a beach settlement offering good beach fishing, but is not suitable for swimming.  On the right is the Whirinaki Gas Turbine Power Station which was originally commissioned in 1978.  Just prior to the Power Station is the entrance to the Ken Ross Reserve, this hour long walk is well worth the effort.

State Highway 5 turn off to Taupo via the Thermal Explorer Highway

• Kilometres from Wairoa: 105km
• Kilometres from Napier: 13km

Napier

• Kilometres from Wairoa: 118km

Napier is a neat city, popular with vacationing New Zealanders because of the pleasant & wonderful beaches.  Napier is known as the Art Deco city & is maintaining that title these days mainly because of the work of the Art Deco Trust.  The buildings in this city have undergone massive reconstruction since the earthquake of 1931 which almost levelled the city.  The rapid rebuilding which occurred in the following few years after the earthquake saw the rise of the Art Deco city, was influenced by the art of that time.  Other tourist attractions include Marineland, the Hawkes Bay Aquarium & a Kiwi House (where you can actually touch a kiwi!).  Napier is also famous for the wide variety of water sports including water skiing, windsurfing, kayaking, parasailing etc.