Where We Have Been - NZ - Gisborne Region

The Gisborne region is one of the rawest in the North Island, with much of it made up of rugged, native bush–covered hills—yet the scenery can be absolutely stunning.

If you chose to head east from the Bay of Plenty, you’ve got a couple of options for getting to Gisborne, the largest city in the region, with a population just over 50,000, and the first city in the world to see the sun of each new day.

One of the best, and our favourite, is the coastal road via the East Cape, SH35. It takes you past Hicks Bay—one of David’s family caravanning holiday haunts—known for its fantastic fishing, and it also gives you the chance to detour out to the East Cape Lighthouse, which is well worth the extra effort. As you continue south, you’ll come to St Mary’s Church at Tikitiki, perched just above the road. Don’t drive past without stopping—its carved interior is famous, and it’s one of those places that will surprise you.

Another option heading east from the Bay of Plenty to Gisborne is the more common inland/main highway route through the Waioeka/Waioweka Gorge on SH2. Be sure to stop and take the short walk to view the Tauranga Bridge—apparently the only surviving harp suspension bridge in New Zealand. From there you can also choose to peel off onto “The Motu” (the Motu Road / Old Motu Coach Road), a historic back-country route. It can be rough—think narrow, often unsealed roads—but it takes you through a wild, spectacular part of New Zealand that feels a long way from anywhere.

And the short-tail stingrays themselves are remarkably placid. They’ll often glide right up and gently nuzzle against you looking for attention… well, probably food — but either way, it’s hard not to grin when a creature like that treats you as part of the scenery.

Gisborne itself has a relaxed, sunny, small-city feel with a strong connection to the sea, and not just because of the port. It’s known for being one of the first places in the world to see the sunrise, and it’s easy to fill a day with simple pleasures—beach time (Wainui is a local favourite), a wander along the riverfront, good coffee and local food, and that slightly “end of the road” East Coast vibe. It’s also a wine region, with vineyards and cellar doors close by—Gisborne is especially well regarded for Chardonnay—so it’s a great place to slow down, sample a few local drops, and let the day unfold.  And for something more casual, we also loved the beers and pizzas at Sunshine Brewing—exactly the kind of laid-back evening, or afternoon, that suits Gisborne perfectly.

Closing Thought: Gisborne really is out on a limb, and it takes a deliberate effort—and a decent chunk of time—to get there. We’ve had some great times in the region, and the stingray experience alone can feel like a reward for making the journey. That said, unless you’ve got plenty of time set aside for your New Zealand travels, it can be hard to justify the extra hours on the road compared with other regions that are easier to reach.