Discover Rere
Accommodation in Rere
Rere Falls and access
When planning a stay in Rere, Rere Falls and the Rere Falls Trail are two distinct points of reference. For the waterfall, you’ll need to find the access road to the car park; the trail, by contrast, involves a longer route and its stated duration. Keeping these separate helps distinguish a visit to Rere Falls from planning a multi-day route.
Rere Falls is on the Wharekopae River. There are toilets and a picnic area at the car park; check before setting out whether these facilities will be available for your visit. From Gisborne, travel west along SH 35, then take Wharekopae Road to the car park. As road conditions can change, it’s best to check them before you leave.
The Rere Falls Trail as a longer route
The Rere Falls Trail is 103 km long. The stated driving time is one to three days, and the route is also classified as Grade 3. These details describe the route’s length, timeframe and grade as a whole, and are not the same as the length of a visit to the car park. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
On the Rere Falls Trail, the sealed road resumes shortly before Rere Rockslide and Rere Falls. This change in road surface is a specific point of reference in the route description: it occurs shortly before the two named attractions, while the length and time estimate apply to the trail as a whole. This helps distinguish the local route from the overall scope of the trip.
Gisborne District: nature and cultural heritage
Gray’s Bush Scenic Reserve is in Gisborne District. It preserves the only remaining example of the nationally rare Kahikatea-Puriri forest type in the Gisborne Plains. A marked loop walk there takes 15 to 20 minutes and is wheelchair accessible; check trail conditions and accessibility before your visit. The reserve provides habitat for kererū, and the rare North Island kākā visits the area seasonally. Sightings are not guaranteed.
Eastwoodhill Arboretum is also in Gisborne District. Its trails range 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. In contrast to the clearly timed loop at Gray’s Bush, Eastwoodhill offers a broader range of trail types, from flat paths to a steep climb.
In Gisborne District, 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, it has aesthetic significance and is clearly visible from the road.
Discover more destinations: Gisborne
Go to the main travel overview: Gisborne District.
