BAY OF PLENTY: WHAKATANE

We called into the Matata Recreation Reserve to have a quick look around before continuing on to Whakatane and then the Cheddar Valley Pottery. There is plenty of room for parking, and basic facilities.

It would be an excellent location to just chill our and get away from busy town and city activity. I would expect that fishing would also be good as access to the beach is just a short walk across the sand dunes.

There a also a couple of antique concrete clothes washing tubs, complete with wringer for squeezing water out of your garments. I didn't check if they were operational, but they might bring back memories for some of our older campers.

The park ranger lives on site and was very helpful.