East Cape Road SH35 — Pacific CoastHighway.
Distance
334 km
Duration
2 days
Climb
3,200 m
East Cape Road SH35 — Pacific Coast Highway.
New Zealand's most remote coastal drive traces 334km of wild Pacific coastline around the East Cape — the first land on Earth to see each day's sunrise. SH35 winds past Māori meeting houses, volcanic beaches, and isolated communities largely untouched by the tourist circuit. The road is fully sealed but demands time: narrow, winding, and scarce of fuel. On Day 2 a 22km sidetrack leads to the East Cape Lighthouse — 700 steps to the top of the North Island's easternmost point.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance334 km
Days2
Total climb3,200 m
Fuel stops1 along route
DifficultyModerate
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2 days, 2 moods.
A suggested split across 2 days with 5 waypoints to discover along the way.
OpotikiStart · Gateway to the East Cape. Fuel up here — stations are scarce on SH35. The carved Māori gateway at St Mary's Church is a 10-minute detour worth making before heading out on the coastal road.
Te KahaFuel Stop · Small coastal settlement 90km from Opotiki and the last reliable fuel before Te Araroa. A deep bay popular with divers hunting crayfish. Basic store and café on the roadside.
Te AraroaOvernight · Overnight in remote Te Araroa. Home to Te Waha O Rerekohu — over 600 years old and spreading across 19 trunks, one of New Zealand's oldest pohutukawa trees. Accommodation is very limited: book ahead.
East Cape LighthousePhoto Spot · 22km sidetrack from Te Araroa reaches New Zealand's easternmost lighthouse. Climb 700 steps to the white lighthouse atop a steep headland for panoramic Pacific views. The first sunrise point in the country — arrive before 8am to beat the cloud.
GisborneEnd · End in Gisborne — the Chardonnay Capital and the first city in the world to see each new day. The compact waterfront, excellent Poverty Bay wineries, and a well-earned seafood dinner complete the journey.
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