Gisborne District: Forests, Trails and Historic Places

In the Gisborne District, you can plan your trip around nature, cycling or history. The differences are specific: Gray’s Bush has a short loop trail, the Rere Falls Trail is a one- to three-day cycling trip, and historic wharfs are used for various recreational activities. If you are looking for a hotel, these interests can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Nature Trails and Cycling Routes

At Gray’s Bush Scenic Reserve, a marked loop trail runs through the area; it takes 15 to 20 minutes and is wheelchair accessible. Check current conditions and accessibility before you travel. The reserve provides habitat for kererū, while the rare North Island kākā visits the area seasonally. Sightings are not guaranteed.

At Eastwoodhill Arboretum, the choice of trails ranges from flat, tree-lined paths to a steep climb up Mt Arateitei. From there, you can enjoy views of the arboretum and the surrounding landscape. This offers a contrast between different types of trails: a short loop at Gray’s Bush and trails at the arboretum that include a steep climb.

The Rere Falls Trail takes a different amount of time: this 103-kilometre cycling route is graded 3, takes one to three days and connects with the Motu Trails. Check route conditions before setting out. For planning purposes, you can compare a short 15- to 20-minute loop with a longer cycling trip.

Historic Places and Wharfs

The wharf at Hicks Bay is a publicly accessible historic place, Category 2. 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 policy. As a landmark on the riverbank, the monument has aesthetic significance and is clearly visible from the road. The Star of Canada is part of the Tairāwhiti Museum on the banks of the Taruheru River.

The wharfs at Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay differ in their described uses. At Tolaga Bay Wharf, people fish, catch crayfish and gather shellfish. Tokomaru Bay Wharf is used for walking and fishing; recreational boats also moor there. Visitors and residents fish at this wharf. It is also a frequently photographed and distinctive landmark of the bay.

Gisborne as a Wider Travel Destination

The wider travel destination of Gisborne includes the Tairāwhiti/Gisborne region, which covers 8,350 square kilometres and stretches from the Wharerata Hills in the south to East Cape and the settlement of Potaka in the north. Its coastline is about 270 kilometres long 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 highest point in the region and the highest non-volcanic mountain on the North Island.

Cultural attractions in the wider travel destination of Gisborne also have their own focus. The Tairāwhiti Museum regularly presents changing exhibitions across nine galleries, covering art, history and decorative arts, with a particular focus on Māori art and culture. The Tupapa Heritage Trail is a four-kilometre loop walk with ten markers from the city to Titirangi Reserve. Its app shares stories of tangata whenua, the Indigenous people, in English and Te Reo Māori.

Discover more destinations: Gisborne, Rere.

Go to the wider travel overview: Gisborne.