Gisborne Activities and Attractions
Gisborne has a lot of attractions and activities which make it well worth the deviation from New Zealand’s regular tourist track. The diverse landscape of the East Cape includes National parks, bushland, rivers, lakes and wide sweeping beaches. Excellent surf breaks, safe swimming and long sunshine hours make Gisborne an ideal location for a relaxing coastal holiday and Gisborne has lots of excellent holiday stopovers for those who want to stay for a while.
Dive and fishing charter boats take trips to fish for marlin, snapper, tuna and kingfish or explore the reefs and underwater ledges in the waters off the East Coast. To drop a line in from shore take a walk along the longest wharf in New Zealand at Tolaga Bay or indulge in a spot of surf casting from a remote beach. The rivers around the Gisborne area are known for some of the best trout fishing in the country. You can fish on your own or go with a professional fishing guide who knows where to go for the best results. Other popular activities in Gisborne include learn to surf schools, white water rafting and kayaking, bush walking, cycling, horse riding and golf.
Gisborne also has lots of interesting attractions to keep you entertained. The East Cape has one of the largest populations of Maori and as a result Gisborne is an excellent place to go on a cultural tour, visit some of the most impressive meeting houses in New Zealand and retrace the steps of Captain Cook’s first landing. Gisborne produces award winning chardonnays and exceptional wines which are internationally recognised and the region is alive with the vineyards, restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues that promote them. There is a well presented wine trail to follow which will lead you around the best boutique wineries in the district if you want to make your own way around. While you are on the East Coast, go on a Gisborne winery tour, visit one of the art galleries or museums or climb the 700 steps up to the East Cape lighthouse at Te Araroa for a panoramic view of the East Coast.
Make time for a visit to the wildlife and theme parks and finish off the day with a hot swim at the beautiful natural hot pools, surrounded by native bush. Gisborne tour operators specialise in wilderness adventures, guided walks of the Waikaremoana National Park, cultural tours and tours of the wineries. Gisborne’s temperate climate and scenic beauty spots make this part of New Zealand a great place to relax and put your feet up with a glass of wine and a platter of local cheese.
