This rocky knob, which becomes an island at hight tide, has great significance to Maori as Te Puka o Takitumu – the anchorstone of the legendary Takitimu waka which was wrecked in Te Waewae Bay.
Monkey Island was a traditional Maori lookout for whales. In the mid 19th century interest focused on another treasure – the gold dust which lay on local beaches. The district’s first goldmining settlement was built here.
The trees look really weird but it seems there’s usually much more wind in this area and every tree is bowing.
