April 19, 2013
We took a day off from boat chores to make the 55-mile drive south to the town of Whakatane and Ohope Beach just beyond it. These places are definitely off the beaten path, remote and out of the way, but after hearing them described by someone who grew up there, I decided they were worth making the trip. (And Rich kindly goes along with these decisions as I’m the official Legacy tour director.)
Our drive south took us through Te Puke, the “kiwifruit capital of the world” and home of the world’s largest kiwifruit statue. It’s actually a slice of kiwi, but I can’t argue its being very big. I think their record is safe: I can’t imagine anyone would feel compelled to make an even bigger kiwi replication. We were very amused by a series of billboards in Te Puke showing cartoon kiwifruit practicing various traffic safety tips. (Sadly I missed the shot of the one where the kiwifruit gets spattered.)
After driving through farm country, the highway went back along the shore. There are miles and miles of lovely beach here.
In a lot of ways this was much like a drive to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles, but there was one big difference: the volcanoes. The first volcano we spotted was Mount Tarawera. It’s a startling sight to look out past the cows and pastures to see a big volcano looming in the distance.
The second volcano we spotted was White Island, just off the coast and a popular tourist destination. We knew this volcano was active, but it was still surprising to see the huge plume of smoke billowing out the top. We actually considered going on one of the tour boats that visit the island. You’re supplied with a hard hat and gas mask and it sounds pretty cool, but one guidebook remarked that if you die doing this, at least you’ll die doing something you love. I’m not sure I’d love it that much that I’d feel OK about losing my life in a fiery molten lava blast. I think I’d rather die eating too much pizza. –Cyndi
