Gisborne Activities
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Dive Tatapouri
Reef Ecology Tour. Tour with Stingrays. P: 06-868 5153 |
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East Coast Museum of Technology
We preserve, promote, & display local technology and history. Come and explore history! See website for hours. See ad below. Adults $10 | All Children $2 | Gold Card $5 P: 06 927 7080 W: www.ecmot.org.nz |
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Eastwoodhill Arboretum
2392 Wharekopae Road. Open Daily. Spectacular scenery, Walks, Guided Tours. P: 06-863 9003 |
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Experience & Cycle Gisborne
Cycle Hire. A range of cycle tours from easy family to more advanced rides. Ask at the i-Site. P: 06 927 7021 |
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Gisborne Astro Tours
Explore the Universe! Wed and Sat nights. Bookings Essential. P: 027 5609 287 W: www.gisborneastrotours.com |
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Gisborne Farmers Market
Every Saturday 9.30am – 12.30pm Rain, Hail or Shine. Cnr Stout & Fitzherbert Street. Direct from the grower to you. |
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Gisborne's Vintage Steam Train
Excursions most holiday weekends. Adults $40 - Child $15 (under 15 years) - Family $90 (2Ad+2Ch). Depot open to public Thurs/Sat 9am to 12.00pm. P: I-Site 06 868 6139 W: www.gcvr.org.nz |
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Haurata High Country Retreat and Farm Walks
658 Makaretu Rd, Otoko. P: 06-867 8452 |
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HB Williams Memorial Library
34 Bright St. 24/7 Free WiFi. Desktop PC’s. 7 Study & breakout rooms available. |
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Mini Golf @ Gisborne i-Site Visitor Info Centre
209 Grey Street, Gisborne. P: 06 868-6139 Fx: 06 868-6138 E: [email protected] W: www.gisbornenz.com |
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MV Takitimu Cruise the stunning Poverty Bay harbour on this Historic Vessel. Approx. 1.25hrs. Public Trips Adult/College Age $25 - Younger $15. Private Charter by appointment. 1 hour $460 - 2 hour $690. M: 027 539 3303 |
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Rere Falls & Rere Rock Slide
This 60 metre natural waterslide is suitable for most age groups, but it is recommended you wear a wetsuit or use a boogie board or inner tube. |
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Riverview Treks & Pinehollow Horse & Pony Rides
2424 Matawai Rd. 20 mins from town. Farm setting with established trees & tranquil river. P: 027 749 1629 |
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Stone Studio
Specialising in Greenstone, Fudge & NZ themed gift & souvenirs. Watch the Carvers at work. 237 Stanley Rd. |
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Tairawhiti Museum and Art Gallery
More than just a Museum! Changing exhibitions of regional history, fine and decorative arts, and a historic cottage and ship to explore. Short walk from city centre or Free Parking & Free WiFi. |
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Torere Macadamias
At the Gisborne Farmers Market Every Saturday 9.30am to 12.30pm. Also available online at www.toreremacadamias.co.nz |
Eastwoodhill Arboretum: 2392 Wharekopae Rd, Ngatapa. Head south from Gisborne on SH35 & SH2, take a right at the large roundabout over the Waipaoa River. The largest collection of northern hemisphere trees in the southern hemisphere. 25kms of walks catering for all levels of fitness and ability.
Makarori Headland: A walk between Makarori Beach and Wainui Beach approx. 5km from Gisborne.
Okitu Scenic Reserve Walk: Located near Wainui Beach, features a loop track through the reserve. It's suitable for all age groups and levels of fitness.
Titirangi Reserve (Kaiti Hill): Is one Gisborne city's most visited attractions and valued for its historic and cultural importance. You will find 4 main lookouts, the eastern-most observatory in the world, a World War II gun emplacement, 6 car parking areas, a playground, a fitness course including tracks and stairs, picnic areas and seating around many viewpoints.
Gisborne City Riverbank Walk: 1km to Waikanae Beach. Entry anywhere on Reads Quay. A further 1km walk along the beach walkway to Midway.
Tupapa Heritage Trail: This walk tours 10 information markers, then concludes with a Pacific Journeys map table at the summit of Titirangi. Recommended start is at Waikanae Beach foreshore.
Grays Bush Scenic Reserve: Back Ormond Road, about 10 km north-east of Gisborne. There are two main tracks that loop and link within the reserve, these are accessed from the spacious sealed car park. The 15-20 minute wheelchair accessible track is a loop that is fully sealed and clearly marked allowing wheelchair users to enjoy close proximity to native bush and view the interesting interpretation signs along the way. The reserve is on flat land and a full circuit of the tracks takes 40-60 minutes at a leisurely pace. The tracks are suitable for all age groups and levels of fitness. The reserve is small enough to roam and explore freely.
Makarori Headland: A walk between Makarori Beach and Wainui Beach approx. 5km from Gisborne.
Okitu Scenic Reserve Walk: Located near Wainui Beach, features a loop track through the reserve. It's suitable for all age groups and levels of fitness.
Titirangi Reserve (Kaiti Hill): Is one Gisborne city's most visited attractions and valued for its historic and cultural importance. You will find 4 main lookouts, the eastern-most observatory in the world, a World War II gun emplacement, 6 car parking areas, a playground, a fitness course including tracks and stairs, picnic areas and seating around many viewpoints.
Gisborne City Riverbank Walk: 1km to Waikanae Beach. Entry anywhere on Reads Quay. A further 1km walk along the beach walkway to Midway.
Tupapa Heritage Trail: This walk tours 10 information markers, then concludes with a Pacific Journeys map table at the summit of Titirangi. Recommended start is at Waikanae Beach foreshore.
Grays Bush Scenic Reserve: Back Ormond Road, about 10 km north-east of Gisborne. There are two main tracks that loop and link within the reserve, these are accessed from the spacious sealed car park. The 15-20 minute wheelchair accessible track is a loop that is fully sealed and clearly marked allowing wheelchair users to enjoy close proximity to native bush and view the interesting interpretation signs along the way. The reserve is on flat land and a full circuit of the tracks takes 40-60 minutes at a leisurely pace. The tracks are suitable for all age groups and levels of fitness. The reserve is small enough to roam and explore freely.
'Cycle Tairawhiti Gisborne'
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Tairāwhiti Gisborne offers superb cycling, with everything from flat, paved trails to an exhilarating mountain bike park.
From near the city centre, Oneroa Beachfront Cycle and Walkway offers a spectacular pedal or walk alongside Waikanae beach. Often you’ll see surfers and swimmers in the water and, on a fine day, you get a panoramic view to the far headland of Te Kurī-a-Pāoa/Young Nicks Head. If you’re keen on a bit more distance, you can ride further along Centennial Marine Drive, then gravel road, all the way to the mouth of the Waipaoa River. The Coastal Waipaoa River Trail is a peaceful ride or walk on gravelled river stopbank. This easy 9km trail now forms part of the Rere Falls Trail route. (see below). At the city-end of Waikanae beach, you can ride past the harbour and up Tūranganui river, which is New Zealand’s shortest river — just 1200 metres to the confluence of the Tahuheru and Waimata rivers. |
Beachfront Cycle/Board walk
- Courtesy of Jim Robinson
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All around Gisborne, you’ll find impressive murals, legacy of projects like 2018’s Sea Walls, Artists for Oceans and Project Ataahua, as well as the efforts of renowned Gisborne artist, the late Graeme Mudge QSM.
The trails are all free, but for a guided experience or hire bikes, contact Cycle Gisborne.
If you prefer mountain bike park riding, head to Whataupoko Reserve, just five minutes from the CBD. This has been a popular mountain biking and walking/running area for years and recently had a major upgrade.
Whataupoko is not huge, but it’s full of trails wriggling through mostly established forest. Two ascending trails and seven descending trails span different grade options. Again, it’s free to enjoy. For the children, beside the Gisborne i-site there is a great pump track and skate park.
Inland from Gisborne, Rere Falls Trail travels the twisting, sometimes-gravel back-country roads to Matawai. Altogether, this is a 100km journey, termed a ‘Heartland Ride’ of The New Zealand Cycle Trail.
Keen bikers ride the whole Rere Falls Trail in one or two days. Some link in Motu Trails and ride from coast to coast, Ōpōtiki to Gisborne, or vice-versa. Others prefer cruising the flatlands between Gisborne and Eastwoodhill, the National Arboretum of New Zealand.
Talk to Gisborne i-SITE to know more about these and other rides and to get brochures with maps or visit www.motutrails.co.nz
The trails are all free, but for a guided experience or hire bikes, contact Cycle Gisborne.
If you prefer mountain bike park riding, head to Whataupoko Reserve, just five minutes from the CBD. This has been a popular mountain biking and walking/running area for years and recently had a major upgrade.
Whataupoko is not huge, but it’s full of trails wriggling through mostly established forest. Two ascending trails and seven descending trails span different grade options. Again, it’s free to enjoy. For the children, beside the Gisborne i-site there is a great pump track and skate park.
Inland from Gisborne, Rere Falls Trail travels the twisting, sometimes-gravel back-country roads to Matawai. Altogether, this is a 100km journey, termed a ‘Heartland Ride’ of The New Zealand Cycle Trail.
Keen bikers ride the whole Rere Falls Trail in one or two days. Some link in Motu Trails and ride from coast to coast, Ōpōtiki to Gisborne, or vice-versa. Others prefer cruising the flatlands between Gisborne and Eastwoodhill, the National Arboretum of New Zealand.
Talk to Gisborne i-SITE to know more about these and other rides and to get brochures with maps or visit www.motutrails.co.nz
Rest stop at Rere Falls
- Courtesy of Ray Sheldrake
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Discover Rere Falls Trail
Rere Falls Trail is a ‘Heartland Ride’ on The New Zealand Cycle Trail and links with Motu Trails. You can start or finish in Gisborne, or drive to trail highlights like Eastwoodhill Arboretum, and cycle from there to Rere Falls and Rere Rock-slide. Rere Falls Trail follows mostly quiet back-country roads, with handy “accommodation at Portside Hotel Gisborne, Naurea Homestead (Patutahi), Eastwoodhill Arboretum, Te Wera Homestead, and Matawai Camp. Cycle Gisborne offer tours, bike hire and more, including short guided tours of Gisborne. |
