Herbertville

Herbertville, earlier known as Wainui after the Wainui River, is a small settlement on the eastern coast of the lower Hawke's Bay area. The large promontory just north is Cape Turnagain. So named by Captain Cook who used the location as a well remembered point where he turn his ship and retraced his steps. At the turn of the 20th century Herbertville was a thriving community. It had a large hotel and several shops, a police station and a blacksmiths. Schooners were beached on the vast expanse of shallow sandy beach on high tides and passengers and cargoes were unloaded. The ships would then be refloated on the next high tide and would carry on their way. Horse-drawn coaches then made their way inland towards the settlement of Dannevirke via Weber.