Eastland

The Maori name for the district is Tairawhiti which means “The coast upon which the sun shines across the water”. Kaiti Beach, near the principal city of Gisborne, was where the Maori immigrational waka (canoe) “Horouta”, landed; and is also the first European landing place in New Zealand.

Captain Cook first set foot here in 1769. European settlement was established in 1831 and the town which developed was named after Hon. William Gisborne, the Colonial Secretary, in 1870.

The Gisborne district (population 45,000 with about 30,000 residing in the city) generally has warm summers and mild winters. Gisborne is one of the sunniest places in New Zealand with average yearly sunshine of around 2200 hours. Gisborne is serviced by daily passenger service, air and bus connections to other main centers in the North Island.

East Cape is the eastern most point of the main islands of New Zealand. Ruatoria is the first point on the mainland of NZ to see the sunrise each day.

The city of Gisborne is located at the north end of Poverty Bay. The white cliff headland of Young Nick’s Head, at the other end of the bay, is visible from the city. The Maori name for the cliffs is Te Kurī-a-Pāoa, meaning The Dog of Pāoa, as this was what it was originally said to look like.

This prominence was the first part of New Zealand sighted by the crew of Captain Cook’s ship Endaevour and was named for the crew member who first saw it. A memorial to Cook stands on the foreshore, marking the point where he first stepped ashore in New Zealand on October 8, 1769. The city has the benefit of being very close to the white sand beaches of Waikanae and Midway. A short distance from the city is the surf beach of Wainui.

There are many interesting and beautiful walks within the region, but one of the most stunning areas for hiking and trekking is in the Te Urewera National Park, the third largest national park and the largest untouched native forest in New Zealand. Soft adventure, such as horse trekking is another way to experience the magic of Eastland. You’ll also find the Southern Hemisphere’s first commercially grown black truffles, the finest cheeses and premier Chardonnay wines.

Mahia Beach is a delightful holiday village with great fishing, surfing and diving, as well as safe swimming beaches and a nine hole golf course. An excellent range of accommodation is available, which makes it an ideal spot for a coastal get-away.

In the tiny coastal settlement of Te Araroa, you’ll find Te Waha-o-Rerekohu – New Zealand’s most ancient pohutukawa tree. It’s more than 600 years old. Down the road in Tikitiki is St Mary’s Church—one of the most ornate Maori churches in New Zealand.

There are many ways to tour the district via plane (Air Gisborne), helicopter (Ashworth Helicopters), bus (Paradise Leisure Tours and Eastland Scneic) and self-drive. A notable tour in the area include:

Whalerider Tours

Enjoy a tour with Hone Taumaunu, cultural adviser to the movie “Whale Rider”.  Experience a guided tour of Whangara, the place where the movie was filmed.  View the whale props and waka used in the filming, stroll the beach and view the marae (Maori meeting house). The tours commence at Whangara which is a 25-minute drive from Gisborne.

Fronting the coastline, Eastland is a key area for diving, fishing, rafting, surfing and other marine experiences. Select examples are:

Walk Gisborne

From the rippling waters of the Waimata River to the expansive Pacific Ocean, Walk Gisborne has it all. Their two or three day walking adventure takes you from spectacular farm to breathtaking coastal scenery.

Wainui Surf School

Try the Surf & Slide where you surf a beautiful Gisborne beach break in the morning before spending the afternoon rock sliding down Rere Waterfalls and natural rock slide.  All necessary equipment is provided.

Freestyle NZ

Head down to the beach this summer and get a buzz from one of our exciting activities – kite surfing, kite buggies, kayaks and skis or mountain bikes.

Walking Legends

Enjoy the flexibility and intimacy of small group guided hiking tours of the Lake Waikaremoana Track, Te Urewera National Park, Whirinaki Forest, Whakatane and Rotorua, New Zealand.

Dive Tatapouri

Dive Tatapouri situated on the waterfront 10 mins. from Gisborne. Watch penguins, seals, many different types of sea birds and dolphins in their natural habitat. Learn about local culture and visit the smallest marae in New Zealand. You can help woth the conservation effort for the Blue Penguin and feed wild stingrays. Or for a thrill, see sharks up close in our design-built safety cage, guided by our professional crew.

The Tairawhiti Heritage Trail leads you through lands now within the Gisborne District. The Trail winds through the ancestral lands of the Maori who arrived here over a thousand years ago. They called the region Tairawhiti, the coast upon which the sun shines across the water. It is a region rich in historical sites and maraes.