GISBORNE: EAST CAPE

The Tolaga Bay Holiday Park is a large campsite right alongside the beach and next to a reserve with a long pier.

The is plenty of room for large vans parking on grass. The facilities were basic but well maintained.

The holiday park is next to a public parking area with access to the pier which stretches a long way out into the bay. It looks to be a good fishing spot, making a stay at the campsite a good option for motor caravanners travelling with fishing gear.

Like many of the beaches around the Cape, it was littered with driftwood. One of the locals that we chatted with was certain that this was because of the extensive pine forest plantations, as the beaches never used to be like this.

However, it would be easy, and inexpensive to bring in a small bulldozer to pile up the driftwood and then burn it off. I would make the beach much more invoiting.

The forests, of course, bring employment and also better roads, which makes driving around the Cape much more enjoyable.

Holiday Park facilities