Cooks Cove Walkway - Hole in the wall

Walk to Cooks Cove where Captain James Cook stopped in 1769 as part of his circumnavigation of New Zealand - with information panels, a hole-in-the-wall, and a safe cove to swim in, this walk is a good option for children. Cooks Cove Walkway is situated at the southern end of Tolaga Bay, 52 km north of Gisborne. On SH35 take the Wharf Road turnoff, 2 km south of Tolaga Bay township. There is a small car park adjacent to the walkway entrance. You can also park at the larger beach car park adjacent to the motor camp, 200 m beyond the entrance. The walkway is suitable for medium levels of fitness as there is some hill climbing required. Good, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The use of this walkway has been made possible through the generous permission of the landowners, Hauiti Incorporation. Please respect the property, do not disturb or approach farm animals and leave gates as you find them. Information panels along this walkway tell the story of Captain James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour’s visit to Cook’s Cove (Opoutama), the Māori history of local iwi Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, and the excavation of an archaeological site at Opoutama first occupied by Māori. The panels were installed in December 2012 and are the result of a joint partnership between the Department of Conservation and Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti.