Visit Gisborne Eastland

for a Great Summer Holiday Destination!

Maori first landed at Kaiti Beach in Gisborne in a waka “Hourata.”

The first city in the world to greet the new day, Gisborne enjoys a pleasant climate.........sunny and warm ................often recording the highest temperatures in the country.

With a port and two rivers - the Taraheru River the Turanganui River - the shortest in the world - it is a picturesque small city.

Gisborne City

The main street is lined with mature palm trees giving a tropical feel to the city. While there is not a huge amount to do on a visit Gisborne/Eastland is well worth including as part of a tour of the North Island, and 2-3 days will give you the opportunity to enjoy the attractions in the area.

The Rhythm and Vines Festival that is now an annual New Year’s event, draws thousands of young people to the city.

Wine enthusiasts will enjoy touring the vineyards sampling New Zealand's best chardonnays, also the many other excellent wines the area produces.

Activities to Enjoy when you Visit Gisborne/Eastland

Tairawhiti Museum and Te Moana Museum cross Peel St bridge and turn left into Stout St - they have a photographic collection and art galleries.

Wyllie Cottage – right next to Tairawhiti Museum this old historic cottage built in 1872 and the oldest house in Gisborne is free to visit. Furnished as it would have been in the day it, gives you the story of the Wyllie family and thus the fascinating local history as you wander through.

The Sled House behind Wyllie Cottage was another interesting historic house. Due to the difficult times they built this house on sled runners so it could be easily moved from one site to another by bullocks.

Kaiti Hill – take a drive to the top to get great views over the city and harbour. You can look at Cooks Landing Site National Historic Reserve on Kaiti beach en route.

Eastwoodhill Aboretum – 35 kilometres out of Gisborne we drove out in the late afternoon. Being May the grape vines were glowing swathes of gold .The Aboretum is world re-knowned with it’s 15,000 exotic and rare tree and shrub collection. Beautiful with the autumn colours, we did not have time to make the most of the 25 kilometres of graded, marked walking tracks or take a guided walk. It is somewhere you could easily spend a day.

Mahia Peninsula – We didn’t have time to go out here, but it is considered a worthwhile day trip for the scenery and beach.

Morere Hot Springs – Publicand private thermal pools set in the bush, you can also enjoy bush walks, and picnic areas.

Gisborne Accommodation

While there are several hotels in Gisborne......... I am reviewing the one I have experienced which was clearly the pride of Gisborne.

Emerald Hotel and Convention Centre – Gladstone

The Emerald Hotel is impressive for a town of this size. Excellent for conventions, it is a good quality hotel for guests. In the main street, it opens into the Meetings Irish Ale House Pub next door for excellent well priced pub meals.

Motels and Motorlodges

Captain Cook Motor Lodge is new, and right next to the Waikanae Camping Ground and beach, so a great location. I commented to my husband it looked like an excellent option for a motel stay.

More beachside accommodation is found 5 kilometres from the city centre at Wainui Beach.

Camping Grounds in Gisborne.

Waikanae Beach Holiday Park is right on the beach front and walking distance to the city centre.We have always found this a good camping ground with all the facilities you need. There are also cabins and deluxe tourist flats here.

Gisborne Showgrounds Park Motor Camp at Makaraka this is 4kms out of the city and seems to have excellent facilities.

Gisborne Restaurants and Wineries