SunLive - Snow in Waioeka Gorge - The Bay's News First

An Eastern Bay of Plenty family has found they didn't have to go far to make a snowman.

It all started when Ohiwa resident Taahu Tai received a friendly heads up on Tuesday morning.

'The weather temperature had dropped. I was rung by a trucking friend of mine and he told me about it,” says Taahu.

Snow in the Waioeka Gorge. Photo: Taahu Tai.

After loading the family into two trucks they set off.

'There was myself, my dad and two young cousins in one truck. And my cousin Derek, his partner, sister-in-law and two babies in the other.”

They left home about 10am and headed off on State Highway 2 towards the Waioka Gorge.

'The snow was about halfway through the gorge, about 35 minutes south of Ōpōtiki.”

Snow in the Waioeka Gorge. Photo: Taahu Tai.

The Waioeka Gorge Road, between Ōpōtiki and Matawai, is part of State Highway 2 and hugs the edge of the Waioeka River, running through the reserve for 50 kilometres.

From Ōpōtiki, the highway enters the gorge at Waioeka Pa and follows the Waioeka River upstream to Wairata, about 42 km from Opotiki.

The road then follows the Opato Stream before crossing it at an altitude of 400 metres altitude and making a steep ascent up Traffords Hill which has an altitude of 700 metres.

'Traffords Hill is a big hill climb, about 15 minutes' drive away from Matawai,” says Taahu.

Derek Ropata Kingi with his son Te Uruariki. Photo: Taahu Tai.

The Waioeka Gorge cuts through ranges of steep-sided hills rising from 400 metres near Ōpōtiki to 1000 metres inland. The hard yet brittle greywacke has been showered with volcanic ash and pumice over thousands of years.

Climbing out of their vehicles it was time to take photos and make a snowman.

'We made a snowman at Rakauroa. My two younger cousins added a few more additions to the snowman. I wanted to send a photo through to SunLive but it wasn't appropriate," says Taahu.

Plenty of snow in a paddock in the Waioeka Gorge. Photo: Taahu Tai.

After some more fun in the snow, it was time to travel home again.

From the top of Traffords Hill the road descends down to cross the Motu River which is 540 metres in altitude, and continues on to Matawai, about 72 km from Ōpōtiki.

'We did a loop, came out at Matawai,” says Taahu, 'and then headed home.”