It has been another easy day in Whakatāne today. I feel like I have taken it a lot easier so far on this north island trip than my south island trip. Hard to tell why that is, but I do have a bit planned in Rotorua, coming up next. Today is also my last day as a 29-year-old! The big 3-0 tomorrow. I would like to say I've been a bit introspective recently, but that would be a lie. I have spent a bit of time thinking to myself "how have we come this far already?" 😂 Anyhow, after breakfast this morning, I headed back into town for (you guessed it) another walk.
There is a self-guided search for little bronze kiwi statues along the waterfront. Evidently, there are ten, but I only found three (with no active searching). Maybe I'll try to find some more tomorrow. Then, I headed out to Whakatāne Heads, stopping at Muriwai's Cave on the way. Muriwai's Cave is one of the most sacred and historically significant sites in the Whakatāne region, the others being Wairere Falls and Irakewa Rock - the trio of landmarks that Toroa was told to look for when the Mataatua canoe arrived. The cave used to extend 122 metres back and could hold up to 60 people!
There was an event happening at the heads today, so, not wanting to interrupt, I didn't walk all the way down the path. I basically stopped once I reached the Lady of the Rock, the statue at the mouth of the Whakatāne River commemorating the bravery of Wairaka, the daughter of Toroa, and captain-navigator of the Mataatua waka.
Next, I headed to the Wairere Falls, which are literally right in town, about a two-minute walk from the main drag. If you remember, this is another one of the important sites - this one because of the flow of freshwater. It is also said that Toroa found Moa here, which he preserved and brought back with him to Hawaiki, the traditional Māori place of origin.
I headed for some a little treat, stopping at a cafe for a cappuccino. I couldn't resist getting sweet and savoury - going for a savoury vege and bacon scone and a blueberry caramel slice. Very yummy!
After, I went on another walk - I think I have now walked the full Warren Cole Walkway, which is what I mentioned I had done part of yesterday. There were some beautiful flowers along the way! I also finished another book today, which was lovely. I am telling you, it is a game changer to carry one around with you all the time! I have swapped it out for another, so maybe there will be time to start that one tomorrow.
I decided to call it a day after that, but not before stopping at Drip Desserts to grab a biscoff cinnamon bun and a caramello cookie! They looked so good, I had to take a picture. When I got back, I went to lie down for a bit, and when I went back to the kitchen, ants had invaded my box of sweets 😭 Honestly, I just brushed them off and ate them anyway. If I ate a few ants, well, that's extra protein for me.
They were both really tasty - the cookie had a few squares of caramello in the middle, and the biscoff was so yummy on the cinnamon bun. Once the ants had invaded, I had put the cinnamon roll in the fridge to eat later, so I heated it up a bit in the microwave and the biscoff got all melty again.
Last but not least, a picture of one of the bugs outside the kitchen this evening!
