4 minute read
Must-Do's of Gisborne & Surrounds
Gisborne to Wainui Beach Cycleway
Ride from the city to the white sands of Wainui Beach. This easy, 6km one-way trail traces the beachfront, passing heritage sites and sculptures.
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Tairāwhiti Museum
Get a taste of the region’s rich history by absorbing a huge range of local and cultural exhibits.
Tupapa Heritage Trail
Integrated with a world-class app, take yourself on a 4km self-led walking tour, peppered with beautiful artworks and 10 tour markers that conclude at the top of Titirangi.
Eastwoodhill National Arboretum of New Zealand
Boasting the most comprehensive collection of woody plants in New Zealand, including a large amount of northern hemisphere trees. Enjoy 25km of walks.
Tolaga Bay Wharf
Home to a 660m pier and the longest in New Zealand. A 50-minute drive north of Gisborne.
Cook’s Cove
See for yourself where Captain Cook stopped when he circumnavigated New Zealand. A 5.8km return walk traverses the landscape (closed for lambing between July and October) and at several scenic lookouts as you go.
Māhia Peninsula
Detour from Gisborne off SH 2 at Nūhaka and find New Zealand’s only rocket-launching company, Rocket Lab. Māhia also boasts gorgeous seaside markets, sandy beaches and swimmable rockpools at Coronation Reserve.
Climb Mokotahi Headland
On the Māhia Peninsula, this short 20-minute walk starts from the edge of Māhia Beach. Reach the top and lap up the sweeping Pacific Ocean views.
Māhia Coastal Rail Bike Ride
The latest adventure from Rail Bikes Adventures. Mount a custom-made tandem bicycle and ride the rails to the coastal communities along Māhia Peninsula. A 22km/three-hour return journey, complete with BYO beachside picnic.
MĀHIA This is THE family-friendly holiday destination if you’re after a summer beach experience without the crowds. If you like to surf, swim, dive and fish, you’ve come to the right place.
GISBORNE BOTANICAL GARDENS A bright and beautifully uplifting garden with huge ponds, a large cactus collection and expansive lawns for a picnic. There’s also an excellent, well-maintained playground.
GISBORNE BEER FESTIVAL Keep Easter Saturday 16 April 2022 free. Bringing together beers and live beats, the fields outside Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum will pump with music.
FEED, SNORKEL AND SWIM WITH STINGRAYS For close encounters with reef dwellers, including stingrays, book a memory-making experience with Dive Tatapouri. Don your waders and get acquainted.
RERE ROCKSLIDE Arguably everyone’s favourite Tairāwhiti to-do, speedsters can whizz down this naturally formed rockslide on a boogie board or inflatable. Should you find yourself without, there’s usually a skip full of discarded ones.
RERE FALLS Just 2km further from Rere Rockslide are the spellbinding Rere Falls. Showcasing a wide curtain of water, there’s an idyllic picnic area to sit, eat and admire.
WINE TASTING Waipaoa River Valley, north west of Gisborne, is acclaimed for its grape growing. Multiple wine tours, including by bike, are available. Download a wine map from gisbornewine.co.nz
MOTU CYCLE TRAIL 103km of glorious terrain connecting Matawai to Gisborne. Allow one to three days to cycle this Grade 3 route which is also a Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails’ Great Ride.
LAKE WAIKAREMOANA GREAT WALK Cover 46km over three to four days, tramping in between lake views, forest, beach and swimming holes.
TITIRANGI Also known as Kaitī Hill, this 35ha reserve and former pā site stands high above Gisborne. Walk, bike or drive to its summit, stopping at several scenic lookouts as you go.
MŌRERE HOT SPRINGS For some therapeutic TLC, relax into hot ancient sea water. There are upper and lower pools, bush walks and a track to Nīkau Falls. Closed Tuesdays, 50 minutes from Gisborne.
TIPUNA TOURS Explore historical sites of significance with your guide, traversing landmarks, traditional marae and Gisborne landscape. By foot or 4WD, tours can be tailored to your interests.
NEIGHBOURHOOD PIZZERIA Sit in the leafy courtyard and dine alfresco. The dessert pizzas are laced with chocolate and strawberries – and not to be missed.
Gisborne town centre © Tairāwhiti Gisborne
BEACH GLAMPING Stay in a spacious and luxurious belle tent fronting Tatapouri Bay – your ticket to a world-class sunrise. There’s also a traditional Finnish sauna and private hot tubs on site.
HARVEST CIDERY The cellar door is open 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday.Drop in and taste New Zealand’s most-loved ciders, including Bulmers, Scrumpy and Strongbow.
THE LONGLINE CLASSIC Held over Labour Weekend at Gisborne Racecourse, enjoy some of Aotearoa’s best live music across multiple stages, with plenty of beats and eats.
FIRST LIGHT WINE AND FOOD Another Labour Weekend goodie, this is Gisborne’s premier wine and food event spread across three fabulous venues: Matawhero, TW Wines and Bridge Estate.
A&P SHOW A riot of entertainment, from sheep shearing to equestrian shows, a Grand Parade and dog comps, there’s also a farmyard, 200-plus trade exhibits and fair rides, all happening at Poverty Bay Showgrounds in October.
TANDEM RAIL BIKING Gisborne Railbike Adventures have cleverly fused two push bikes together, to be ridden – tandem style – on a former railway line. Impossible to fall off and no steering is required.
SURF Seasoned surfers know the best waves are at The Pipe, south of Gisborne town, as well as Sponge Bay and Tuamotu Island. Newbies hit the gentler surf at Waikanae Beach and Roberts Road.
Rocket Lab, Māhia Peninsula © Trevor Mahlmann
