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City in Gisborne District, New Zealand
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Gisborne is a small sunny beachside city on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It's a popular holiday spot, especially in summer, as it has a warm, dry and sunny climate, swimming and surf beaches, wineries, and a more relaxed pace of life than larger cities. Due to its proximity to the international date line, it's the first city in the world to see the sun rise, which makes it a good place to spend New Year's Eve if you're looking for a party.
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Solid local museum with Māori taonga and history displays. The basement houses a local surfing/ocean exhibit, including documentation of Captain Cook's first landfall in New Zealand and an entire boat wheelhouse from The Star of Canada, which sank in the harbour in 1912. There is also an historic house open to the public and a café on-site.
New Zealand's largest planting of North American trees. It has plenty of walks and gardens, and is lovely in the autumn when the leaves change.
Puhi Kai Iti
The Cook Monument was unveiled in 1906, and development of the port since means that it is no longer obvious that this marks where Cook landed in 1769 during his first voyage aboard HMS Endeavour. Cook's crew first sighted New Zealand on 7 October 1769, and landed two days later. Nine Maori died in an unfortunate encounter. Cook named the area Poverty Bay and sailed south to get supplies. The memorial was built after fundraising started in 1902 which aimed to get all New Zealand school children to donate one penny. The area was upgraded in 2019 and was renamed Puhi Kai Iti / Cook Landing National Historic Reserve.
Offers one-day wine-tasting cycle tours, city tours, and mountain biking. They also offer multi-day cycle tours throughout the district.
Has local fruit and veg, bakeries, delis, cheese, and wine tastings. Often local musicians play.
The pool complex offers a 50 m lane pool year-round, and outdoor diving pools, 33 m pool with zero-depth area, and 98 m hydro-slide in summer. BBQs are available for hire (book in advance, especially in summer), and there is also a playground and a campsite suitable for large, self-catering groups.
Stingray Tour
Equipped with deep waders, you walk out onto the reef and enjoy some up close and personal time with stingrays and other sea life (you can even pat the stingrays). Times vary with the tide. Booking required.
A natural sloping rock formation that a stream flows over it and a natural pool at the bottom. With a little care, you can slide down on body boards, tyres or backsides. It's not for the faint-hearted though, so pack some courage.
A three day music festival to celebrate the new year. Held in a vineyard and includes popular New Zealand and international artists. Camping accommodation is set up in Watson Park especially for the event which has been increasing in size every year (from 1,800 people in 2004 to 25,000 people in 2010).
reserve on a hill with a Cook monument and a pōhutukawa tree planted by Diana, Princess of Wales.
Gisborne is one of New Zealand's largest grape growing regions with just over half its 2,000 hectares of vineyards planted in Chardonnay. A Mediterranean climate and suitable soils are the key factors in the success of wine production in this region which regularly produces unique, full-flavoured, award winning wines of international standard.
A local legend, this chippie at Waikanae Beach has fish and chips, takeaways, counter food, and ice cream.
In the grand old Poverty Bay Club (1874).
Sunny cafe with art exhibits, tasty kitchen food and snacks.
A general store that also serves fish and chips, burgers, and the best pizza in the East Coast.
Daytime café with large selection of counter food, including vegetarian and gluten-free.
Has tastings from local wineries and gourmet snack platters to share. They organize the Wine and Food Festival, held in October each year.
Bar and cafe on the harbourside. Mid-range family dining during the day; a fun social atmosphere in the evenings. Music is mostly from a jukebox, but the drinks are pretty strong.
Gisborne's luxury hotel option is in the heart of the CBD. Emerald Hotel's rooms and suites often overlook the river. It also hosts a function/conference centre, day spa, and in-house restaurant.
Beachfront motel. Rooms have kitchen facilities.
By plane
There are frequent flights from Auckland and Wellington (both 1 hour) on Air New Zealand.
By bus
GizzyBus is the local bus service and operates M–F 7:10am–5:40pm, not on public holidays or weekends.
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Gisborne · Regional · GIS
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