About | Cooks Cove Walkway
Cooks Cove Walkway explores the area that the English sailor and explorer, Captain James Cook, visited in 1769 as he circumnavigated New Zealand and it has great views that can be enjoyed along the way.
Starting off on your walk you’ll pass a little shelter with information boards about the area. Have a read and then carry on upwards, through the trees, over the fence and up the grassy hill to where a sculpture stands proudly. Only a short distance in, but it’s a great spot to have a break, bring out a snack for the kids and enjoy the view.
When you’re done, pull yourself away from the view, you’ve got some fields and a hill to walk up.
The good news is that when you’ve pulled yourself up the hill, there’s an even more magnificent view to behold. Looking down from the wooden viewing platform at 125m above sea level, you can see the bay where Captain James Cook brought in his ship which is also where you’ll be heading to next.
To get down there you’ll pass through the shady tea tree forest. There’s a good amount of wooden steps going down but nothing huge. When you wind your way down to the bottom, you’ll come across a clearing.
Check out the natural archway, known as the hole in the wall (Te Kotere o te Whenua) which gives you quick access to the sea on the other side. Walking through and to the other side you can take in the steep cliffs and beautiful coastline. The kids will love clambering along the rocks and you can get a nice outlook of the mountains on the other side of the water, the steep cliff rising up and running along the coastline and the long Tolaga Bay Wharf jutting out to sea. A beautiful spot to sit and take it all in, I reckon.
Just a short distance away is Cooks Cove. Wade through the water, lay out a picnic blanket, have a read of the information panels and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Cooks Cove and Pourewa Island in the distance. The cove is a safe swimming spot being in a sheltered inlet and also sheltered from the wind by the Mitre Rocks so bring your togs! This is the spot where the ship, the HMS Endeavour, anchored and Captain Cook and his crew restocked and repaired his ship.
Time & distance: 2.5 hours, 5.8km return walk via the same track
Parking: there is parking outside of the track entrance, and more parking at the beach carpark 200metres from the entrance.
History
Tolaga Bay was a well-populated area with a population of 1,200 people, which was a large number at the time, when James Cook arrived and had been this way for many centuries. Homes were scattered around the coastal areas of Tolaga Bay and around the Uawa and Mangaheia rivers. Large cultivations could be found on the flats and Cook’s Cove was used for fishing and gathering seafood.
When Captain Cook arrived in October 1769 he was welcomed by the Maori with canoes coming aside the ship with fish and kumara. His time there left an extremely positive impression on both parties and he left with supplies of wood, food and water.
Nearby
Tolaga Bay Wharf
Location
Photos
There is a pretty nice view and picnic spot up here. Great to give the kids a little break before heading on up the hill. Awesome views go all the way out to the mountain ranges.
The next viewpoint is nice, too! Finding a little path to the left, I followed it and it took me to the most amazing views!!
Continuing on down through the forest… (lots of steps!)
Where I reached the hole in the rock. Great place for a little explore.
Kick off your shoes and feel the cool waters edge lap at your feet. Nice and sheltered place to go in for a swim if you’re keen! Then find your way back the way you came.
