Where to find us
Gisborne is the most easterly city in the world and is located in the north eastern part of New Zealand’s North Island. Whether you choose to take the quick hour long flight from either Auckland or Wellington, or take the picturesque road trip, getting to Gisborne and the wider Eastland is effortless.
Scenic Highlights
A journey Out East must include a trip to the East Cape Lighthouse to experience the first sunrise in the world. It takes about 30 minutes to drive out to the lighthouse from Te Araroa and there are about 700 “easy” steps to the top. The view is well worth the climb.
The Eastland section of the Pacific Coast Highway, State Highway 35, is one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. There is something special about the isolation, the sometimes stark beauty and the interesting characters you meet along the way.
Wairoa’s Maori name means "Long water" and it is the gateway to the wilderness playgrounds of Te Urewera National Park and Lake Waikaremoana. Activities to be enjoyed include lake kayaking, trout fishing, boating, day walks and a multi-day walking trip around magnificent Lake Waikaremoana, one of New Zealand's 10 Great Walks.
Just 30 minutes north of Gisborne, Tolaga Bay is a thriving little coastal town with a huge heart. Their pride and joy is the Tolaga Bay Wharf which has been lovingly restored in an epic community project that saw this tiny township raise millions of dollars to save their wharf. At 660 metres long the concrete wharf is the longest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
What's on
Weekend of Wine and Food
Labour Weekend
Rhythm and Vines
29 -31 December
First to see the light every day of the year.
Conference Venues & Facilities
Gisborne is quickly becoming a convention and event hotspot with its wide range of venues including new purpose built conference centres, a large capacity event centre, outdoor amphitheatres, boutique wineries and beautiful old buildings. For indoor events, venues can hold up to 1700 people or for a stunning outdoor occasion the region regularly hosts events of up to 25,000 people. Gisborne has a facility to meet every need.
Accommodation
Eastland boasts a variety of quality accommodation all the way from Opotiki to the city centre of Gisborne including 4 star fully serviced hotels, boutique lodges, farmstays and serviced apartments. There’s something for any type of requirement.
Unforgettable Experiences
Eastland has a strong presence of Maori Culture which you can experience firsthand with their selection of cultural tours which often feature one of the 150 marae located in the region. To appreciate the gorgeous scenery of Eastland, the region has several walks, reserves and cycle tracks including the Whinray Scenic Reserve which is filled with native forest and runs down to a spectacular set of waterfalls on the wild Motu River. For a more relaxing alternative the Morere Hot Springs are sure to delight with its therapeutic waters or simply be the first in the world to watch the sunrise in the morning! Gisborne is also famous for producing exceptional Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Merlot and Malbec, so be sure to sample a drop or two of the region’s finest!