Whakatane
It was ANZAC Day on the 25th of April, and since it fell on a Saturday, Monday became an extra day off. No work for three days, so we decided—very spontaneously—to travel to Whakatāne. It’s not a crazy drive from Taupo, only around 2 hours and 10 minutes!
We had never been before, and since we’re trying to see more of New Zealand, I booked a one-night stay and thought we’d just check it out and maybe come back in summer.
We left early on the 25th, driving through thick fog as we made our way out of Taupo. Once the sun came out, it turned into a beautiful drive. We took the shorter, more scenic route, and it felt incredibly peaceful.
Our first stop was breakfast—we needed enough energy for a full day ahead. We ended up sitting outside The Bean Coffee Roastery Café, sharing a big breakfast, a scone, and a mocha milkshake.
Then, off we went to hike the Kohi Point Walkway.
KOHI POINT WALKWAY
We parked along Seaview Road near Hillcrest Road. Parking is limited—only about five cars at a time—so we were lucky to grab a spot. (Just a minute or two later, another car slowed down, also looking for parking.) From there, you simply continue walking up Seaview Road, and you’ll find tiles with arrows pointing you toward the start of the walkway.
Quick Overview
Distance: 11.6 km | 7.2 miles
Duration: 4–5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Seaview Road car park
End Point: Ōtarawairere Bay
Best time to go: Early morning for fewer crowd
Track Tips
- Wear decent shoes — some sections can be uneven
- Bring water — it may feel short, but the sun can be strong (we finished our water while we were heading down)
- No bins — pack in, pack out
- Check tides if you plan to explore the beach sections
Travel Guide
The Kohi Point Walkway winds through pockets of native bush, opening up to a series of scenic viewpoints along the way. One constant feature is the presence of Whale Island (Moutohora), sitting quietly offshore and often framed perfectly between the trees.
Expect a mix of well-formed paths and stair sections, with climbs that break up the walks. While viewpoints are scattered throughout the track, the most striking outlook is at Kohi Point. This is where everything opens up—the land drops off, and suddenly it’s just you and the Pacific stretching endlessly ahead.
From Kohi Point, walkers have two options. You can return the way you came for a straightforward out-and-back hike (which is what we did), or continue onward toward Ohope Beach if you’ve arranged transport. The one-way option is ideal if you want to end your walk by the water—whether that’s swimming, or relaxing on the sand.
If you continue past Kohi Point, the track gradually descends toward Otarawairere Bay before following the shoreline. This section is tide-dependent and is best attempted at or near low tide, so it’s important to check conditions in advance.
The walk took us about 2–3 hours before we made it back to the car park.
It was just after 2 pm when we finished, so we headed straight to Pak’nSave to stock up on snacks and water. Since it was ANZAC Day, we also took a slow wander through the Whakatane town centre. A few places like Farmers, Kmart, and Briscoes were open, and there were some ANZAC Day sales happening, so we browsed a bit. We bought new sheets for our guest bedroom, and a stand for our indoor pot, before finally heading to the hotel.
We checked in at Pacific Coast Motel later that afternoon. I’d booked a unit with a spa bath on purpose—because nothing says “post-hike recovery” like soaking in hot water while reading on my Kindle.
For our usual dinner date, we had a reservation at The Comm. We had salt and pepper calamari for appetizer, chicken donburi bowl for my main, while John went for the porterhouse steak with mashed potato and onion rings. Everything came out generous and satisfying—we were completely full by the end. We both agreed we’d come back again.
Ohope Beach
The next morning, we woke up with a satisfying kind of soreness from the hike the day before.
We parked in front of the Ohope Grocery Store and set off for a long, easy walk along Ohope Beach. The vibe here was completely different—slower, more local. People were out fishing along the shore, and every few minutes we’d pass someone walking their dog. Honestly, the dogs alone made the walk worth it—so many happy, sandy, very-loved little companions.
After our walk, we stopped for brunch at Port Ohope General Store & Café. We ordered an iced mocha, fish and chips, and a seafood chowder that honestly deserves its own paragraph—it was the creamiest chowder we’ve ever had.
Before heading back to Taupo, we made a quick stop at the Sunday market. It was smaller and had fewer stalls compared to the one back home, but the prices were noticeably cheaper. We ended up buying a huge bag of red chillies for $5—absolute steal!
By then, the trip had already slowed into that familiar end-of-getaway feeling. Whakatane didn’t try to overwhelm us with big attractions or busy energy. Instead, it gave us something better—memorable hike, beautiful views, and good food that somehow added up to a really good weekend.
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