How To Spend A Weekend In Gisborne On Your New Zealand Road Trip

UPDATED FEB 2020. Today we are going to be taking a look at what is, in my opinion, one of the underrated gems of New Zealand’s north island. It’s certainly a place that is worth stopping at during your New Zealand road trip. Here’s my guide on how to spend a weekend in Gisborne. I’ve included recommendations for what to do, where to stay, and where to eat. I hope it can take some of the stress out of trip planning for you.

How To Spend A Weekend In Gisborne On Your New Zealand Road Trip

Disclaimer

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What to expect in Gisborne

Gisborne is a small, working-class city on the north island of New Zealand.

It will be one of the quieter stops on your road trip, particularly compared with bigger cities like Auckland or Rotorua, but this makes it a great place to offer you a more authentic feel to the visit.

It’s also a good spot for finding local businesses for crafts, art, handmade goodies and other souvenirs.

Where to stay

I stayed at the White Heron Motor Lodge and it was fantastic value for money.

It meets all your basic lodging needs as far as a clean room, parking, WiFi, convenient location, and comfortable bed.

But, the real highlight came in the form of the size of the spacious rooms, a large spa bath, and the customer service from the staff at the front desk.

If I was going back to Gisborne, I’d certainly stay there again.

No matter where you choose, I recommend searching on Booking.com. This is what I use to book accommodation when I travel and I always find a good deal there.

Things to do

1. Drive to Tologa Bay

Tologa Bay is just under an hour away from Gisborne and makes for a nice day trip.

If you visit when the weather is warm you could easily spend the day swimming at the beach and enjoying the sunshine, or if you prefer to stay out of the water, you could walk the Cooks Cove Walkway, and walk along the jetty to admire the views of the steep cliffs (keep an eye out for sheep on them).

Whatever you do, make sure you stop in at the pub, the Tologa Bay Inn, for lunch – they do a great burger.

2. Visit some waterfalls

If Tologa Bay isn’t for you, another day trip option could be to see Motu Falls which is a little over an hour from Gisborne or perhaps Rere Falls which is just under an hour away.

3. Head up Kaiti Hill

Back in Gizzy, you can walk or drive up the steep and windy Kaiti Hill for some beautiful views.

Along the way to the top, there’s a tree that was planted by Princess Diana and a monument to Captain Cook (use Cook’s Plaza in Google Maps).

Once you get to the top (James Cook Observatory in Google Maps will get you there), you can soak in the scenic views of the bay meeting the city.

There is another monument for Captain Cook called the Cook Landing Site that you could see before or after you go up the hill.

4. Visit the beach

There are a few beach areas to choose from in Gisborne. No matter which you choose, make sure you check out the beach.

I went to Waikanae Beach and I can vouch for this being a great spot for some sunset fish and chips on the beach. Captain Morgans is at the end of the street and you can walk your fish and chips to sit on the beach and eat it.

Wainui Beach is another option.

Whether you stay there for a beach day or not, it’s worth a visit to see the site where 59 Sperm Whales were beached and died back in 1970. My dad and nana remember when it happened and it was interesting to hear their recollections of it as well.

Here’s a good list of other beaches around Gisborne as well.

5. Walk along the Riverside Walkway

For a nice walk, talk a stroll along the Riverside Walkway and check out the railway track bridge.

It’s a flat walkway so much easier on the legs compared with Kaiti Hill. It’s also a very pretty area to walk around.

If you prefer a little adventure, you could take a Railbike adventure where you’ll head out on a tandem bike that follows the railway track along a scenic journey.

Don’t worry, trains don’t use the tracks so it’s a safe day out. I didn’t get to do one of these rides while we were there, but it looks really cool. Here’s the Gisborne Railbike website for more information.

6. Check out the Greys Hill lookout

The Greys Hill lookout is another lookout point for some gorgeous valley views.

You could also walk through Gray’s Bush Scenic Reserve before or after to see native flora and fauna.

7. Buy a greenstone (& some fudge) at the Stone Studio

If buying greenstone or whale-bone is on your New Zealand souvenir list, then The Stone Studio in Gisborne is a great local place to get one.

You can see the workshop where they carve the designs and you can also learn about the different shape and pattern meanings while you’re there.

Either way, wherever you buy it from, make sure your greenstone is labeled as being made in New Zealand.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of dodgy imports at the souvenir stores that sell green stones but not greenstone.

The Stone Studio also sells very nice fudge so make sure you get some of that while you’re there too!

8. Experience ANZAC Day

If you want to experience a non-touristy cultural day, I recommend planning your visit around the 25th of April.

This goes for a visit to Australia or New Zealand. The 25th of April is also known as ANZAC Day.

It’s my favorite holiday of the year because of how steeped in tradition it is. Also, to me, it’s such a good reminder of how lucky we are.

I was in Gisborne for ANZAC Day and it was one of the best ceremonies I have ever experienced.

If you plan to experience ANZAC Day while you’re there, check out the Gisborne RSA for more information (or the RSA for whichever city you will be in).

Where to eat

Here are some of my favorite spots where I ate during my visit to Gisborne.

Verve Cafe and Bar

I really liked Verve Cafe and Bar for breakfast and especially loved the display they had when I was there which was about the negative effect of plastic on the environment.

Art aside though, they serve up a great breakfast and iced coffee (with a paper straw) in a casual setting.

Poverty Bay Club Cafe

Stopped at the Poverty Bay Club Cafe for a coffee and snack to catch up with some family and it was a really nice stop.

The caramel slice was awesome and the outdoor seating area was a nice place to chill out.

Breakers

Breakers was a family-style restaurant that served up a bit of everything in a casual atmosphere.

Captain Morgans

I mentioned Captain Morgans above and it really was such a great spot for fish and chips and the fact that it’s right on the beach is the cherry on top. Make sure you try a scoop of Hokey Pokey ice cream afterward.

Other guides to help you plan your trip to New Zealand

• How To Spend A Weekend In Whangarei On Your New Zealand Road Trip

• How To Spend A Weekend In Rotorua On Your New Zealand Road Trip

• Travel Photography Tips For Beginners – Improve Your Shots In 6 Easy Steps

I hope this guide on how to spend a weekend in Gisborne can help you plan your trip.

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