Gisborne

One of the first cities in the world to see the sunrise and Captain Cook's landing place, with Tolaga Bay's long wharf and the Rere Rockslide.

Gisborne (Tūranganui-a-Kiwa in Māori) lies on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, on the northern shore of Poverty Bay. It is the main city of the Tairāwhiti (East Coast) region, with a population of about 38,000. Close to the International Date Line, it is one of the first cities in the world to see the sunrise. In 1769 Captain Cook made his first landfall in New Zealand here, and the ancestral Māori waka (canoes) had landed here before him, making it a key place for telling the story of the first encounters between Māori and Europeans. There are three main routes: a day in town, climbing to the Kaiti Hill (Titirangi) lookout for sunrise, visiting the Cook landing site and Tairāwhiti Museum, and strolling Waikanae Beach and the inner harbour over seafood; a day trip inland to the northwest via Eastwoodhill National Arboretum to Rere Falls and the Rere Rockslide; and a day trip north along State Highway 35 past Wainui and Makorori surf beaches and the stingray feeding at Tatapouri reef, to Tolaga Bay Wharf and the Cook's Cove Walkway. The region is also one of New Zealand's key Chardonnay areas, with several wineries on the outskirts of town for tastings. The climate is warm, dry and sunny: Dec–Mar is best for beaches, surfing and the rockslide, Apr–May brings the finest autumn colours at the arboretum, and winters are mild but quiet. Getting there: Gisborne Airport has flights to Auckland and Wellington; by car it's about 3 hours from Rotorua or Napier, on mostly hilly, winding roads. There's no passenger rail and public transport is limited, so hiring a car is recommended. Allow 2–3 days.

Top sights

• Titirangi / Kaiti Hill Lookout – A hilltop lookout over Gisborne's city center, harbor, and Poverty Bay. It is also a popular spot to watch the world's first sunrise.
• Rere Rockslide – A natural smooth rock slide about 60 meters long. People slide down on boogie boards or inflatable mats, making it the most famous summer a…
• Tolaga Bay Wharf – A concrete wharf about 660 meters long, one of the longest in the Southern Hemisphere, stretching into the Pacific. It is an iconic sight o…
• Puhi Kai Iti / Cook Landing Site – Where Captain Cook's Endeavour first landed in New Zealand in 1769. Redeveloped in 2019 as a memorial site telling the story of the first e…
• Tairāwhiti Museum – A regional museum on the East Coast with Māori artefacts, surf history, and the wheelhouse of the old steamer Canadian Star.
• Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae – One of New Zealand's largest Māori meeting houses, its interior covered in fine carvings and woven panels that showcase East Coast Māori cr…
• Waikanae & Midway Beach – A long sandy beach right next to the city centre, ideal for swimming, strolling, and watching the sunset. The Midway Beach end has a large…
• Wainui Beach – A surf hotspot about 6 km east of the city, with a long white sand beach, consistent waves, and spectacular sunrises.
• Makorori Beach – An unspoilt bay north of Wainui with many surf breaks and open coastal scenery along the road.
• Tatapouri Reef Ecology Tour (Dive Tatapouri) – Wade out onto shallow reefs in water shoes and get up close to wild stingrays and eagle rays. One of Gisborne's most highly rated experienc…
• Rere Falls – A curtain-like waterfall about 20 metres wide with a drop of around 5 metres. You can walk behind the falls, and it is a popular summer spo…
• Eastwoodhill Arboretum – New Zealand's national arboretum, one of the world's largest collections of northern hemisphere trees, with spectacular autumn foliage.
• Cook's Cove Walkway – A walk through farmland and along sea cliffs to the small bay where Captain Cook once anchored, passing the famous Wall Cave arch.
• Young Nick's Head (Te Kurī a Pāoa) – White sea cliffs at the southern end of Poverty Bay, where Nick, the young sailor on the Endeavour, first sighted the New Zealand land.
• Morere Hot Springs – Natural hot springs in a primeval rainforest, with hot pools and rainforest trails side by side. A good rest stop on the way to Napier.
• Gisborne Botanical Gardens – A municipal botanical garden on the Taruheru River, with a rose garden, a cactus house, and a children's playground. Free admission.
• Gisborne City Vintage Railway (Wa165) – Ride the 1897 Wa165 steam locomotive along the coast, with a route that crosses the airport runway.
• Gisborne Inner Harbour – The old wharf area beside the river mouth, home to seafood restaurants, bars, and a sculpture walk about Māori seafaring.
• Whāngārā (Whale Rider Location) – A small Māori village where legend says the ancestor Paikea rode a whale to land, and where the film Whale Rider was shot.

Where to eat

• The Works – A popular restaurant in a former freezing works on Inner Harbour, where you can watch the sun set over the river mouth…
• Crawford Road Kitchen – A sharing-plate bistro inside the Gisborne Wine Centre, pairing local seafood with regional wines, and busiest at sunse…
• Portofino – A husband-and-wife Italian restaurant that has long topped TripAdvisor's Gisborne rankings, with well-liked seafood ris…
• Flagship Eatery – A popular brunch café behind a red-orange door, known for whole-food, locally sourced dishes and plenty of vegetarian o…

Itineraries

• Pacific Coast and East Cape Road – From Auckland along the east coast to Napier, rounding East Cape to see the long wharf and Napier's Art Deco city.