Discover the Gisborne District: Trails, nature and history

In the Gisborne District, travel ideas range from a short loop walk through a forest reserve to multi-day cycling trips and historic waterfront sites. These differences can help with planning: consider whether you’d like to focus your stay on nature, outdoor activities or culture, and choose your destinations accordingly.

Cycling routes and trails with different character

The Rere Falls Trail is a 103-kilometre grade 3 cycle trail, for which one to three days are recommended. It connects with the Motu Trails. Plan your timeframe to suit your trip and check track conditions before setting off. This helps distinguish this longer option from the shorter trails in the district.

At Gray’s Bush Scenic Reserve, a marked, wheelchair-accessible loop trail leads through the reserve; 15 to 20 minutes are suggested for the loop. Check conditions and accessibility before you arrive. At Eastwoodhill Arboretum, the network of paths ranges from flat, tree-lined trails to a steep climb up Mt Arateitei. From there, you can enjoy views of the arboretum and surrounding landscape. The options therefore range from a short walk to a steep climb.

Forest and wildlife

Gray’s Bush Scenic Reserve preserves the only remaining example in the Gisborne Plains of the nationally rare kahikatea-puriri forest type. It provides habitat for kererū; the rare North Island kākā visits the area seasonally, but sightings are not guaranteed. This distinctive feature gives a walk there a different focus from the trails at Eastwoodhill Arboretum, where the routes and views shape the visit.

Wharves and historic sites

The wharves offer different perspectives on life by the water. Tokomaru Bay Wharf is used for walking and fishing; recreational boats also berth there. It is widely photographed as a distinctive landmark of the bay. At Tolaga Bay Wharf, people fish, look for crayfish and gather shellfish. It is believed to be the longest reinforced concrete pier and wharf on an open roadstead in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as New Zealand’s longest concrete pier and wharf.

The wharf at Hicks Bay is a Category 2 historic place and is open to the public. In Gisborne, the Wi Pere Monument commemorates Wi Pere’s contribution to the development of the Tairāwhiti region as a Māori leader, politician and outspoken critic of government land policies. As a landmark on the riverbank, the monument has aesthetic significance and is clearly visible from the road. The Star of Canada is also part of the Tairāwhiti Museum on the banks of the Taruheru River.

The wider Gisborne destination

As a regional overview, the wider Gisborne destination is useful: the Tairāwhiti/Gisborne region covers 8,350 square kilometres and extends from the Wharerata Hills in the south to East Cape and the settlement of Potaka in the north. Its coastline stretches for around 270 kilometres and includes sandy beaches, rocky shores, headlands, offshore islands, sea stacks and reefs. Along the region’s western boundary, the Raukumara Range forms a rugged, bush-covered mountain ridge; at 1,754 metres, Mt Hikurangi is the region’s highest point and the highest non-volcanic mountain on the North Island.

You can also plan a cultural visit in Gisborne: the Tupapa Heritage Trail is a four-kilometre loop walk with ten markers from the town to Titirangi Reserve. Its app shares stories of tangata whenua in English and Te Reo Māori. The Tairāwhiti Museum regularly presents changing exhibitions of art, history and decorative arts across nine galleries, with a particular focus on Māori art and culture.

Choosing the right holiday rental

When looking for a holiday rental in the Gisborne District, it’s worth first prioritising the experiences that matter to your trip: a short loop walk, a longer cycling trip, scenic views or historic sites. This lets you choose accommodation to suit your planned travel pace, rather than deciding based on accommodation type alone.

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Discover more destinations: Gisborne, Rere.

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