Explore our region

Take your time to explore and enjoy Gisborne and the region of Tairawhiti. 
Here's some ideas for things to do and see around our region.

Adventure

• Surf some of the best breaks in New Zealand.
• Enjoy a swim at any of our safe beaches.
• Slide down the Rere rock slide - a 60m long natural water slide.
• Raft the Motu River.
• Get face-to-face with a Mako shark in the safety of a dive cage.
• Feed stingray off the Tatapouri reef.

Hunting and fishing

• Hook a trophy trout from the Ruakituri River.
• Tramp or hunt through virtually untouched native bush.
• Explore a whole coastline of fresh seafood; book a game-fishing charter.

Relax and enjoy

• Freedom camping.
• Play a round of golf.
• Stroll through Eastwoodhill Arboretum's 20km of walking tracks.
• Walk a range of tacks through native bush. Check out our walkways and trails.
• Drive 'up the coast", experience friendly East Coast hospitality.
• Take a “Whalerider Tour” of Whangara – home to the Whalerider movie.

Arts and culture

• Relax at the theatre. See a show at one of our city theatres or grab a bean bag and a pizza to watch European art house productions at the Dome Cinema, or see the latest Hollywood movies at the Odeon.
• Visit the Tairāwhiti Museum.
• Visit Toihoukura on the EIT campus – contemporary Māori Art on display.

Wine and food

• Sample wines of Gisborne – Chardonnay capital of New Zealand. Enjoy cellar door tastings, or organise a wine tour.
• Dine at one of our harbour side cafes and restaurants or one of our many other cafes and restaurants.
• Farmers' Market on Saturday morning for fresh local produce.

Annual festivals and events

• Gisborne Wine & Food festival in October.
• Rhythm and Vines - see in the New Year at the biggest party.

Related websites

Check out what's on

Gisborne events including what's on at our theatres.

Olympic pools - 6 separate pools, main pool covered and heated.

Tourism Eastland - Gisborne and Eastland region tourism website.

Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti - provides services and delivers programmes to achieve people being more active.

Gisborne News - Local newspaper.

HB Williams Memorial Library - Gisborne's public library.

Tairawhiti Museum - and art gallery, has a reputation as one of the best regional museums in New Zealand.

Tairawhiti Arts- art and culture from the East Coast of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Heart of Gisborne - Gisborne's central shopping area.

East Coast Museum of Technology - displays and demonstrates historic artifacts from the Gisborne district.