Last Updated on: 11 April 2026

Quick Facts

DetailInfo
Distance5.8 km return
Time2.5 hours return
DifficultyModerate
Track surfaceFarm track, light bush, steps on descent. Can be muddy and slippery in winter
DogsNo
ParkingSmall car park at walkway entrance on Wharf Road. Larger overflow car park at the motor camp 200 m further
ToiletsAt the car park and at the cove
Seasonal closureClosed 1 August to Labour Weekend (late October) for lambing
CostFree
Distance from Gisborne52 km north on SH35, about 50 minutes

The Cooks Cove Walkway is one of the better walks on the East Coast. It’s got coastal views, history, farmland, native bush, a natural rock arch, a safe swimming cove, and information panels that are actually worth reading. It takes about 2.5 hours return at a comfortable pace, with one decent climb on the way in.

Captain Cook anchored at Cooks Cove (Opoutama) in October 1769 during his circumnavigation of New Zealand, stopping to repair the Endeavour and take on supplies. The information panels along the track tell the story of that visit and of the local iwi Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, whose land this is. The walkway exists through the generous permission of Hauiti Incorporation, respect the property, leave gates as you find them, and don’t approach the farm animals.

Getting There

From Gisborne, take SH35 north for about 52 km. Take the Wharf Road turnoff, 2 km south of Tolaga Bay township. The small car park is right at the walkway entrance. If it’s full, there’s a larger car park at the motor camp 200 m further down the road.

No public transport. You’ll need a car.

While you’re in Tolaga Bay, the wharf is worth a look — it’s the longest in the Southern Hemisphere at 660 m, and a short flat walk in itself.

The Walk

  • Cross the small open paddock at the start to reach the walkway proper
  • The track climbs through light bush and across open grassland, mainly on a farm track below the clifftops
  • After about 20-25 minutes you reach the wooden lookout platform at 120 m above sea level — first views of Cooks Cove, Mitre Rocks and Pourewa Island
  • The track descends through regenerating kanuka bush via a winding track with steps
  • At the bottom, cross a stile onto the coastal flats behind the cove
  • Turn left 5 minutes to Te Kotere o te Whenua (the Hole in the Wall rock arch), or right 15 minutes to the Historic Places Trust monument commemorating Cook’s 1769 visit
  • The cove itself is sheltered and good for a swim in summer

Allow extra time at the cove — it’s a good spot for a picnic and worth sitting with for a bit.

What You’ll See

  • Sweeping views of Tolaga Bay and the Eastland coastline from the lookout
  • The Hole in the Wall (Te Kotere o te Whenua) — a natural rock arch through which you can see the ocean. Banks described it as a “most noble arch” in 1769
  • Pourewa Island and the Mitre Rocks offshore
  • Farmland with sheep and cattle on the way in and out
  • Fantails, silvereyes and shags near the cove

Important Stuff

  • No dogs — conservation land rules apply
  • Closed 1 August to Labour Weekend (late October) for lambing — check before visiting in late winter or spring
  • No camping or fires
  • No water on track — bring your own
  • Cell coverage is limited
  • Sections of the track cross sloping farmland and can be muddy and slippery in winter — good shoes are important
  • Steep coastal bluffs near the clifftop section — stay on the marked track

Other Walks Nearby

Anaura Bay Walkway is about 27 km further north on SH35 and has a similar character — farmland, coast and Cook’s history. Note that the Anaura Bay track is currently partially closed due to storm damage; check conditions before visiting. See all options on the Gisborne Walks hub.