"Te Kotere o te Whenua" Another Hole-in-the-Wall
Te Kotere o te Whenua, a natural archway, otherwise locally known as the "Hole-in-the-Wall" is without doubt the most interesting geological feature in Cook's Cove, Tolaga Bay. The listed co-ords will take you to a signpost within ~50m of the archway entrance.
Located on the East Coast of the North Island, the Hole-in-the-Wall is a narrow coastal cliff ridge, with an impressive sea arch formed by the sea cutting its way through a narrow passage. This archway is very distinct and unusual for this region, its dimensions are ~16.5m in length, 7.5m in width at its narrowest and 7.0m in height at its lowest point, and leads from a valley above the cove, through a hill, and out onto a rocky beach. A small stream flows through the floor of the archway, which is littered with large rocks and uneven boulders.
The archway consists mainly of sedimentary miocene rocks of marine origin, which are well preserved throughout this area. The miocene rocks typical of the East Coast, include massive blue-grey sandstone and mudstone (sometimes known as papa), mudstone with minor sandstone and conglomerate, and alternating sequences of sandstone and mudstone.
Mixtures of Cretaceous to Miocene sedimentary and igneous rocks were emplaced in the Early Miocene, by sliding over the underlying sedimentary rocks. This is referred to as the East Coast Allochthon, and they consist of sheets of rock separated by faults and transported by tectonic processes some distance from their original sites of deposition. Sands that are associated with the Allochthon immediately following emplacement of the sheets, where erosion resulted in widespread deposition of sands across the top surface and in front of the allochthon. By the Late Miocene, the onshore outcrops are sandstone-dominated alternating sandstone with mudstone units. There are also areas of Neogene Turbidite sequence outcrops south of Tolaga Bay.
The erosional coastlines in this area have been shaped primarily by marine processes. These occur when land is being eroded by the sea faster than sediment can be deposited and where land is being lifted by these tectonic processes. The energy for the processes of this coastal erosion is supplied mainly by waves and currents, as they beat against cliffs, waves compress air with cracks in rocks, and on re-expansion, the air can shatter the rock. Where waves encounter headlands, a significant factor is refraction (bending) of the wave fronts, which causes their erosive energy to be directed towards the headlands and away from the bays. Waves arriving on a coast at an angle also generate a longshore drift (movement of sediment along a shore), which shifts material eroded from the headland towards adjacent bays. Groundwater that has emerged at the surface and surface-water run-off also gradually wear channels through the headland.
Where the headlands are subjected to wave erosion, various distinctive features develop in a classic sequence. First, sea caves form at the bases of the cliffs on the sides of the headlands, usually along faults and joints (planes of weakness in a rock), wave action gradually deepens and widens the caves until they penetrate right through the headland to form an arch. Next, the roof of the arch collapes to leave an isolated rock pillar called a stack. These are ultimately worn down to stumps.
The maori name for Cook's Cove is Oputama, and is sheltered by Mitre Rocks (an example of rock pillars and stumps) and Pourewa Island, located at the entrance of the cove. It is historically significant as the first spot in New Zealand where Captain Cook on board the HMS Bark Endeavour, managed to obtain fresh water, firewood and supplies in October 1769.
Access to the Hole-in-the-Wall is via the Cook's Cove Walkway, approximately 5.8km return through farm land. Allow 2.5hr for the return trip.
The track is closed for lambing season each year from 1st August, to the start of Labour Weekend in late October. To reach the trailhead carpark, take the Wharf Rd turn-off, 2km south of Tolaga Bay and 52km north of Gisborne on SH35.
After approximately 20mins of walking you'll come to a lookout point that provides excellent panoramic views of Cook's Cove and Tolaga Bay.
The track then continues down through regenerating forest to the cove, where you can explore the "Hole-in-the-Wall" and inspect the NZ Historic Places Trust Memorial, which commemorates Cook's visit, this is a great spot for a picnic lunch. While here, you can visit the nearby cache GCMHBX Captain Who II.
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To claim this earthcache, you must visit the Hole-in-the-Wall near the listed co-ordinates, and email the answers to the following questions. Please await confirmation before logging. DON'T post any answers or spoiler photos in your online log. Logs not complying will be deleted.
1. At the listed co-ordinates. What is the six digit DOC asset tag number on the sign-post pointing to the "Hole-in-the-Wall", and the number of minutes to Cooks Cove? Email your answers only.
2. Walk through the archway and while standing approximately 15-20m from the entrance with your back to the sea, describe what you can see on the right-hand side of the archway. Please do not post your answer or any spoiler photos of this feature online.
3. Post a picture clearly showing your GPS, and yourself if you so wish, with the archway clearly seen in the background. Post this photo on your online log.
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It is highly recommended that you time your visit for low tide. Check your tide times here.
Select Tolaga Bay (Cooks Cove) from the location pull down menu.
While in the area, continue along to the end of Wharf Road and visit the historic Tolaga Bay Wharf, at 660m, it is one of the longest piers in the world. From the end of the wharf, see if you can spot the Hole-in-the-Wall, it should be easily seen. This walk is well worth the extra effort.
First to Visit honours goes to nzcoozer.
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