New ZealandOne of the first places in the world to see the sun each day, Tairāwhiti is remote, sunny and full of stories, with surf beaches, Chardonnay and the wild coast road around East Cape.
Highlights
- East Cape road State Highway 35 winds past small Māori communities, bays and the East Cape Lighthouse. Check road conditions first: parts have been repaired after storms.
- Tairāwhiti Museum Local Māori history and the story of the first meeting between Māori and Europeans in 1769.
- Rere Rockslide A natural 60-metre rock slide on the Wharekōpae River: bring a boogie board.
- Eastwood Hill Arboretum The national arboretum, spectacular in autumn colour.
- Beaches and wine Wainui and Makorori for surf, and Gisborne Chardonnay at local cellar doors.
Best time to go
Gisborne is one of the sunniest places in the country. Summer is best for beaches; autumn is lovely for the arboretum and quieter roads.
Getting there
Gisborne is a long drive from anywhere (about four and a half hours from Napier or Rotorua), so many visitors fly in from Auckland or Wellington.
Main towns
Gisborne, Tolaga Bay, Tokomaru Bay, Te Araroa