Gisborne: Creekside Trails, Gardens and Kangaroos

Gisborne offers several very different experiences: trails along Jackson’s Creek, botanical gardens, a regular market, a playground, swimming facilities and kangaroo-watching tours. When planning your trip, it is worth deciding on a focus in advance. Would you mainly like to get around outdoors on foot or by bike? Are you interested in a cultural attraction, or are the market, swimming and wildlife watching your priorities? These differences can help you choose a holiday rental to suit your travel plans.

Along Jackson’s Creek: Trails and Gardens

The trails along Jackson’s Creek are suitable for cycling and walking. The Jackson’s Creek Walk runs from the Gisborne Botanic Gardens to Sankey Reserve, following grassy banks and large deciduous trees. Alongside the trails by the creek, it offers a route with named endpoints to help you plan your walk. Pedestrians can reach the Gisborne Botanic Gardens from both the west and east via bridges crossing Jackson’s Creek.

The gardens are home to the Māori taonga Tanemahuta, also known as Lord of the Forest; it was installed in 1996. As well as opportunities to be active outdoors, the garden by the creek also has a specific cultural connection. If you are interested in Māori taonga, Tanemahuta offers a distinct point of interest as you explore Gisborne.

Play and Swimming

For trips with children, the Gisborne Adventure Playground is a specific place to visit, with a wide range of play equipment for children of all ages. The Gisborne Aquatic Centre is in the centre of Gisborne. It has a heated lap pool, a warm-water exercise pool and a pool for swimming lessons. The programme includes swimming lessons and aqua aerobics. This means there are options for exercising in the water as well as a playground with equipment for children of different ages.

Market Day on Hamilton Street

The Gisborne Olde Time Market takes place on the first Sunday of every month on Hamilton Street in Gisborne. It offers food and wine, fresh produce, handmade goods, arts and crafts, clothing, accessories, jewellery, books, plants and fresh flowers. The mix makes it possible to browse a variety of goods, from food to arts and crafts and plants. If the market is important to your trip, check the date in advance; the range can vary from one market day to the next.

Kangaroo Tours and Nearby Views

The Gisborne Golf Club’s Kangaroo Sightseeing Tours use a five-seat golf buggy. Kanga Tours offers tours on the club grounds, where you may see around 200 wild Eastern Grey Kangaroos. This is an approximate figure; sightings of wild animals naturally vary.

Mount Gisborne Reserve is close to Gisborne. The reserve’s summit is on a 100-metre-high volcanic hill. From there, you can see the Gisborne township, the Macedon Ranges, the Pyrete Range and Melbourne’s Central Business District. Eastern Grey Kangaroos are often seen grazing in the reserve. Along with the golf club tours, this adds a lookout and more opportunities to observe kangaroos in their natural habitat.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Williamstown, St Albans, Oakleigh, Essendon, Mt Waverley, Highett, Olinda, Glen Waverley

For the overview of the wider region: Melbourne.