Three Sisters Beach

For the best views of the three 25m towering rock formations on the beach known as the Three Sisters, turn down Pilot Road (on the seaward side of SH3) north of the Tongaporutu bridge (a 15 minute drive from Mokau, itself a 90 minute drive from the Waitomo turn-off). There is another formation next to the sisters known as Elephant Rock - it does look amazingly like an elephant. Here you can get spectacular photos of the rock formations and the white cliffs of North Taranaki.

There were four sisters at the turn of the century, but the sea has eroded one away.

If you want to get up close and personal with the Three Sisters, turn off South Highway 3 down Clifton Road south of the Tongaporutu Bridge and park in the riverside reserve. At low tide you can walk alongside the river and round the point where you will find the Three Sisters and Elephant Rock. In nearby caves you can also view a rock drawing of a curious six-toed foot.