HORSE TREK EAST CAPE - East Cape
Horses are still a popular form of transport around the East Cape of the North Island. If you like the idea of a four-legged vehicle, you can arrange to go horse trekking – either along the beach or in the Te Urewera Ranges. Enjoy half a day of trotting across the sand, or saddle up for a five day trek into the forested wilderness.
You'll find a variety of service providers through the local visitor centre or by googling horse treks Gisborne.
Photo courtesy of Ian Trafford
RERE FALLS GISBORNE - Rere, Gisborne
On a hot summer’s day, Rere Falls a picturesque water fall near Gisborne is both a scenic place for a picnic and a venue for extreme rock sliding on the natural 60m rock slide available. Get some local advice before you let yourself slide – it’s important to know what you’re doing.
Location: 50km's north-west of Gisborne, Wharekopae Road, the same road as Eastwood Hill Arboretum – combine the two for a great day out.
Hours: 24
Price: free
Web: http://waterfalls.co.nz/waterfalls-by-region/north-island/83-new-zealand-waterfalls/north-island/hawkesbay/209-rere-falls
photo courtesy of Ian Trafford
GISBORNE WINERIES - Gisborne
Gisborne is famous for producing exceptional wines.
With fantastic weather averaging in the high 20's, fertile clay soils and some of the most acclaimed winemakers in the country you'll enjoy visiting Gisbornes wineries, sipping delectable wines accompanied by tasty cheese and whiling the day away.
You can find available wineries to visit at the local information centre, there are also tour operators available allowing you the freedom to drink without having to worry about driving.
photo courtesy of www.gisbornewine.co.nz
GISBORNE BEACHES & SURFING
Gisborne’s waves have attracted families and surfers since the early 1960s.
In an easterly or southerly swell you’ll find a local beach that’s pumping.
Dawn surfing is a special experience because Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the sunrise each day.
North of Gisborne, there are some excellent beach breaks at Tolaga Bay, Tokomaru Bay, Waipiro Bay and Hicks Bay.
Use the link in the top corner for maps of local beaches.
photo courtesy of www.teara.govt.nz
MOTU RIVER - Opotiki
Gateway to the East Cape, Opotiki offers a host of watersports, the most popular of which is whitewater rafting and jetboating on the Motu and Mohaka Rivers.
Motu River is one of New Zealand's great, wild rivers. The Motu drops nearly half a kilometre over its 110km length. There are a few service operators which will cater for your need to ride the rapids, your bound to have the time of your life.
Location: Highway 2 to Matawai, then Motu Rd to Motu, from there 7km east of Motu.
Price: free, tour operators will charge
Hours: 24
au.totaltravel.yahoo.com -
MAHIA - North of Wairoa
This scenic 21km peninsula is famed for its fishing, surfing and diving. Mahia is popular for its many picturesque beaches which are a popular holiday spot around the world.
There are a few options of accommodation available from motels and bed & breakfasts through to baches and holiday homes available for rent. To find these please google mahia accommodation or search the holiday home sites available.
Location; North of Wairoa
Price: Free
Hours: 24
TOLAGA BAY - Gisborne
At 660 metres long, the Tolaga Bay wharf is believed to be the longest in the Southern Hemisphere. It was built more than 70 years ago to allow ships to unload in any tide. An excellent half hour stroll, take your fishing gear and your camera.
Location: 45 km's northeast of Gisborne on state highway 35.
Hours: 24
Price: free
photo courtesy of Tourism Eastland Inc
MT HIKURANGI - Gisborne
Located near Gisborne, its 1752m height is the first point on the mainland to see the sunrise. You can trek this mountain either solo or by guided tour. In Māori mythology, it was the first part of the North Island to emerge when Māui pulled it as a giant fish from the ocean.
Climbing treks require permission from the local iwi (tribe), Ngati Porou, please visit the Ngati Porou Visitor Centre - 144 Waiomatatini Road. Ruatoria.
Location: the Ruakumara Range, about 130 kilometres north of Gisborne.
Hours: 24
Price: free
Photo courtesy of GNS Science - Lloyd Homer
EAST CAPE LIGHTHOUSE - East Cape
The first to see the sun in the world the East Cape lighthouse stands on the most easterly point of the North Island.
The historic lighthouse provides impressive views along the coastline.
The light house was moved to its current location in 1922 due to land stability issues, its inital location was established in 1875 on east island and building began in 1898. The lighthouse is not open to the public.
Directions: From Hwy 35 at Te Araroa, drive 25 minutes on East Cape Road to the car park. then theres a 20 minute climb up 500+ steps to the lighthouse.
Photo courtesy of Andy Palmer
TE URUWERA NATIONAL PARK - Eastland
A vast 212,572ha park and the largest remaining area of native forest in the North Island. Remote, the Te Urewera park offers tracks from which you'll experience views of Tuhoe's sacred mountain (Maungapohatu) and the expanse of the National Park. The most popular trek is the park's 51km track around Lake Waikaremoana, one of New Zealand's Great Walks.
The Te Urewera region covers the southern part of Te Urewera National Park. The park is famous for its lakes and forested beauty and its ancient history.
There are guided tours available, please enquire at the local visitor centre for information.
Location: Best access is SH 38 just out of Wairoa off Frasertown Rd.
Web: http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/national-parks/te-urewera/
EASTWOOD HILL ARBORETUM - Gisborne
Located 35km west of Gisborne, the arboretum contains New Zealand's largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees, shrubs and climbers, with ponds, formal gardens and walkways. The reserve is accessed via a 45min bushwalk. The National Arboretum of New Zealand (Eastwood Hill) encompasses 135 hectares of exotic and native trees, shrubs and climber plantings. Visitor services include walking trails for all levels of fitness, the nationally significant Homestead Garden, accommodation, tours for groups big and small, function venue and catering services.
Location: Wharekopae Road, 35 km's west of Gisborne.
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Prices: Adults $15 -Seniors $12 -Under 16's $2
photo courtesy of Eastwoodhill Arboretum
Eastland’s warm dry climate and relaxed coastal lifestyle offer rich local Māori culture, a vast outdoors and good food & wine.
The north island's Eastland offers a landscape which is rural and wild with national parks, forests, beaches, lakes and rivers, one of which is Lake Waikaremoana, situated in the Urewera mountains of Te Urewera National Park. It offers a four-day walking track which is one of New Zealand’s nine ‘Great Walks’.
Worlds away from civilisation, Te Urewera National Park offers a vast pristine natural environment, offering a multitude of short or long walks.
Eastland's European history dates back to 1769 when explorer Captain Cook first stepped ashore at Kaiti beach.
The rugged cliffs near Gisborne, "Young Nicks Head", are named after crewman Nicholas Young of the Endeavour.
With many Eastland places being sacred to Māori, local tribal permission is required for access. Mt Hikurangi is a sacred mountain for the local Māori and is considered the legendary resting place of Maui's waka, the fishing boat used by him to pull up the North Island. From Mt Hikurangi you'll find uninterrupted views of the Eastland plains & sunrise, but you must acquire permission from the local Ngati Porou.
One of Eastlands popular activities is vineyard tours. Most wineries offer cellar doors and tasting facilities as well as a restaurant or cafe for lunch. Seafood (Kaimoana) is also plentiful in Eastland, with the locals either fishing from boats, the beach, or eeling in the rivers. The local shops always carry the local seafood, whether its crayfish or fish and chips.
Renowned for its wild surf beaches, the East Coast offers challenging but rewarding spectacular land and seascapes. There are horse-riding tours available to explore those remote beaches or sea kayaking to explore those inaccessible coastal routes. There's even a 60m smooth, natural water-slide at Rere.
"Most wineries offer cellar doors and tasting facilities as well as a restaurant or cafe for lunch."
Gisborne, Patutahi, Ormond Valley, Te Karaka, Matawai
Eastland Sights
Tourism Eastland