There's no road access and at high tide the only way to get to Otarawairere Bay is by boat – which makes this secluded and beautiful Whakatane beach even more appealing.

The beach can be reached by walking tracks, which start either from the southern end of Ohope Beach or from Whakatane, but check with the Whakatane Visitor Information Centre for the latest tide information before starting out. Because the beach can't be accessed on foot at high tide.

Slips earlier this year temporarily closed the walk but new staircases have been installed and along the route there are places to stop and enjoy the view. There are steep sections along the route, up and down stairs; but it is well worth the effort.

On a sunny day the wide sweeping beach glistens with thousands of fragments of surf-polished shells, adding to the allure of the bay.

The track to the beach is part of a longer route known as Nga Tapuwae o Toi, or the ‘Footprints of Toi', which is a walkway that captures the essence of the Whakatane district.

It includes pa sites of major historic significance, superb native forest, spectacular pohutukawa stands, unsurpassed coastal views, seabird colonies, forest birds in abundance, plantation forest and rural vistas.

The track includes three major scenic reserves – Kohi Point Scenic Reserve, Ohope Scenic Reserve and Mokoroa Scenic Reserve. The walkway is accessible to most people, regardless of fitness level, because it can be undertaken in sections or as a 16km round trip. The total trip can be completed in five to seven hours. Information boards placed in strategic locations tell much more of the district's natural and historic heritage.

The view of Ohope Beach from the beginning of the walk to Otarawairere Bay.

If you intend to complete the entire 16km round trip, it is recommended you do so in a clockwise direction; the track is far more challenging going in the opposite direction.

If you are walking to Ohope and wish to return to Whakatane by bus, the Beach Hopper Bus can pick you up at the Ohope Beach Haven store. Phone the Whakatane Visitor Information Centre for bus times.

The track is named in memory of the district's earliest residents. The Eastern Bay of Plenty was one of the first parts of New Zealand to be settled by Maori and the first inhabitant was Tiwakawaka, who local legend says arrived more than 1000 years ago.

For some generations, Tiwakawaka's people lived in Kakahoroa, later named Whakatane, before the arrival of the tribes Te Tini o Toi, Te Hapuoneone and Nga Potiki. Many of Te Tini o Toi, Toi's people, formed marriage alliances with the original settlers. High above Whakatane, Toi's stronghold was Kapu-te-rangi, one of the oldest known pa sites in New Zealand. Toi's sons Rauru and Awanuiarangi founded tribes of their own.

For more information about the walks and history of the district, visit: www.whakatane.com