Gisborne Regional Information

Gisborne is one of the sunniest cities in New Zealand and, as the one of the world's most eastern centres, is the first to greet the sun each day. Fittingly, the East Coast's Maori name, Tairawhiti, means 'the coast upon which the sun shines across the water.' The city is situated at the meeting point of the Waimata and Taruheru Rivers, and has a population of over 32,000.

The area is thought to have been settled around 1350, when the first Maori arrived at Kaiti Beach and formed the settlement of Turanganui, now Gisborne. The same site is the place at which Europeans first set foot on New Zealand soil in 1769. Today, visitors can go to the Cook Landing Site National Historic Reserve, the site commemorating these historic events.

To learn more about the region's turbulent past, visit the Tairawhiti Museum, with displays featuring Maori treasures, colonial artifacts and the geology of the region, as well as a collection of fine art. Gisborne is also the site of Te Poho o Rawiri, one of the largest meeting houses in New Zealand. Permission is required to visit and view the building's decorative interior.

The fertile land around the city is well suited to the farming of subtropical fruits, growing of fresh produce and planting of vineyards. Known as the Chardonnay capital, one third of New Zealand's Chardonnay grapes are grown in the Gisborne area. Sample the delights of the region's full-bodied and fruity wine on one of the area's wineries or take a day to enjoy a winetrail. For more information on wineries and varieties of wine produced in Gisborne, visit Wines of Gisborne.

The fertility of the land has also been put to good use in the planting of gardens, some of which are open to the public. Eastwoodhill Arboretum allows visitors to enjoy a thirty minute drive through picturesque vineyards and rural farmland. The Arboretum covers 150 hectares, one hectare of which is the nationally recognised formal Homestead Garden. There are a number of walking tracks, designed to suit all fitness levels.

Gisborne's wild east coast beaches are a drawcard for keen surfers. Waikanae Beach is a good starting point for beginners and those with basic surfing skills, while those with more experience can catch a wave orat The Pipe or Sponge Bay Island.

Navigate with our great Gisborne map to stay on the right track and find what you're looking for when traveling in the region. While you're on the road, be prepared for all seasons with weather forecasts, reports and current information on Gisborne weather.

For further information on Gisborne, visit the information site for the region.