Discover Gisborne District: Nature, Trails and History

In Gisborne District, trails through bush and arboretum meet historic wharves and significant memorial sites. Options range from a short loop walk to a multi-day cycling route. When planning your trip, you can start by considering whether longer stages, nature watching or cultural sites should be the focus.

Trails for Different Day Plans

The Rere Falls Trail is a 103-kilometre cycling route, graded 3 and described as taking one to three days. It connects with the Motu Trails; check trail conditions before setting off. The wider Gisborne destination also includes the Dunes Trail, the Pākihi Track and the Motu Road Trail as part of the Motu Trails offering. There are opportunities for walking, cycling, mountain biking, trail running and multi-day bikepacking between Ōpōtiki in the Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti/Gisborne. This gives you a choice of short and longer activities without having to plan the same amount of time for every outing.

A shorter nature walk leads into Gray’s Bush Scenic Reserve: the marked loop takes 15 to 20 minutes and is wheelchair accessible. Check conditions and accessibility again before your visit. The reserve preserves the only remaining example in the country of the rare Kahikatea-Puriri forest type found in the Gisborne Plains. Kererū find habitat there; the rare North Island kākā visits the area seasonally, though sightings are not guaranteed.

The trails at Eastwoodhill Arboretum also vary in difficulty: they range from flat, tree-lined paths to a steep climb up Mt Arateitei. From there, you can enjoy views of the arboretum and surrounding landscape. In the wider Gisborne destination, the 135-hectare collection includes more than 25,000 species of exotic and native trees, shrubs and climbing plants. The choice between flat paths and a steep climb makes trail selection a practical decision for your day’s plans.

Wharves and Memorial Sites

The wharves offer different reasons to visit. People walk and fish at Tokomaru Bay Wharf; locals and visitors use it for fishing, and recreational boats berth there. It is also a distinctive, frequently photographed landmark of the bay. Tolaga Bay Wharf is used for fishing, catching crayfish and gathering shellfish. It is believed to be the longest reinforced concrete pier and wharf on an open roadstead in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as the longest concrete pier and wharf in New Zealand.

The wharf at Hicks Bay is a historic Category 2 site and is open to the public. In Gisborne, the Wi Pere Monument commemorates Wi Pere’s contribution to the development of the Tairāwhiti region as a Māori leader, politician and outspoken critic of government land policy. A landmark on the riverbank, the monument has aesthetic significance and is clearly visible from the road. These places add a historical focus to a trip alongside outdoor activities.

Gisborne as the Wider Regional Setting

The wider Gisborne destination, also known as Tairāwhiti/Gisborne, covers 8,350 square kilometres and stretches from the Wharerata Hills in the south to East Cape and the settlement of Potaka in the north. The coastline is around 270 kilometres long and includes sandy beaches, rocky shores, headlands, offshore islands, sea stacks and reefs. Along the region’s western boundary, the Raukumara Range forms a rugged, bush-clad mountain ridge. At 1,754 metres, Mt Hikurangi is the region’s highest point and the North Island’s highest non-volcanic mountain.

Culture can also be part of your plans in this regional setting. The Tupapa Heritage Trail is a four-kilometre loop walk with ten markers from the city to Titirangi Reserve. Its app shares stories of the tangata whenua in English and Te Reo Māori. In the wider Gisborne destination, the Star of Canada is also part of the Tairāwhiti Museum on the banks of the Taruheru River. The museum regularly presents changing exhibitions across nine galleries on art, history and decorative arts, with a particular focus on Māori art and culture. The region’s wines include Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Merlot and Malbec.

Tailor Your Stay

Consider which of these experiences matters most to you, and search for hotels near the places you want to visit.

Explore more destinations: Gisborne, Rere

Go to the wider travel overview: Gisborne.