Gisborne Travel Guide 2026 – Best Things to See & Do

Titirangi is the hill overlooking Gisborne that has served as a spiritual and strategic lookout point for the Rongowhakaata people for centuries. Today it forms a scenic reserve with walking tracks that provide the best panoramic views of the city, the bay, and the East Coast hill country stretching to the horizon. The summit is crowned with a war memorial and provides orientation for the entire region.

Cook's Cove at Tolaga Bay, about 50 kilometres north of Gisborne on the Pacific Coast Highway, marks the spot where Captain James Cook anchored the Endeavour in October 1769 — his second New Zealand landing after the Gisborne encounter — and found fresh water, timber, and more favourable contact with the local Māori population. The walk to Cook's Cove from Tolaga Bay passes through farmland and native bush to reach the dramatic coastal cliffs and the cove itself, where a monument marks Cook's encampment. The adjacent Tolaga Bay Wharf, at 660 metres the longest wharf in New Zealand, is a pleasant stop in its own right.

Gisborne's beaches are among the finest in the North Island, and the city's surf culture is a genuine and unpretentious part of its identity. Midway Beach in the city centre is the most accessible and is patrolled by lifeguards during summer; it hosts the annual Rhythm and Vines music festival at New Year. Wainui Beach, 6 kilometres north of the city, is the preferred break for experienced surfers — a consistent beach break with swell exposure that produces excellent conditions much of the year.

Beyond Wainui, the Makorori and Pouawa beaches further north offer more remote surfing with fewer crowds and stunning cliff scenery. The water is warm by New Zealand standards — the East Cape coast benefits from a warm current flowing south — making it comfortable for swimming and surfing from November through March. Surf schools operate from Gisborne offering lessons for all levels. The Makorori Beach surf break is one of the most picturesque in the North Island, with the eroded gold cliffs of the East Coast forming a dramatic backdrop.

Eastwoodhill Arboretum, located 35 kilometres northwest of Gisborne in the Ngatapa Valley, is one of the most extraordinary horticultural collections in New Zealand and the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees in the Southern Hemisphere. It was established from 1910 by William Douglas Cook, who spent six decades assembling a collection of over 3,000 different species across 135 hectares of rolling East Coast farmland.

The result is a landscape unlike anything else in New Zealand: mature oaks, elms, maples, chestnuts, and conifers imported from Britain, Europe, North America, and Asia, planted in naturalistic compositions across valleys, ridges, and open meadows. In autumn (March–May), the arboretum provides one of the finest foliage experiences in the country — a full spectrum of reds, oranges, golds, and burgundies that is particularly remarkable given the subtropical climate of the surrounding region. Spring brings cherry blossom, magnolias, and early flowering maples. The arboretum is open year-round, with a small admission charge. Self-guided and guided tours are available.

Rere Rockslide and Falls in the Wharekopae River, about 50 kilometres northwest of Gisborne in the Poverty Bay hinterland, is one of New Zealand's most unusual natural attractions — a massive natural rock slide where a section of the riverbed has been smoothed by centuries of water flow into a natural waterslide approximately 60 metres long. Locals and visitors ride down the slide on boogie boards, rubber rings, or simply their clothing.

The adjoining Rere Falls is a wide, tiered waterfall dropping into a beautiful swimming hole surrounded by native bush — one of the most beautiful swimming spots on the East Coast. The combination of natural waterslide and waterfall makes this a genuine family adventure destination that feels completely authentic rather than purpose-built. Rubber rings can be hired from the road stall near the site. The drive from Gisborne through the Wharekopae Valley passes through classic East Coast pastoral country with impressive views of the Raukumara Range. The site is free to access.

Gisborne's Poverty Bay wine region is one of New Zealand's least known but most interesting — a warm, sunny coastal plain that produces wines of remarkable variety and quality. Chardonnay is the flagship variety: Gisborne chardonnay has a distinctive richness and roundness that distinguishes it from the leaner Marlborough style. Gewurztraminer and viognier are also produced here with considerable success, reflecting the warmer growing conditions. Pinot gris and merlot round out the region's portfolio.

The main wine producers — Millton Vineyard (New Zealand's first certified biodynamic winery), Matawhero Wines (established 1975, a Gisborne pioneer), and TW Wines among others — all offer cellar door tastings from their East Coast vineyards. The flat terrain and light traffic make cycling the wine trail an excellent option; bike hire is available in Gisborne. The Sunday Farmers' Market in Gisborne city centre provides an excellent companion experience to the wine trail, showcasing local produce including the region's excellent citrus fruits, avocados, and seafood.