Where First Light, Long Roads & Coastal Calm Set the Pace
 
Gisborne and Tairāwhiti sit quietly apart from the rest of New Zealand – a region shaped by distance, coastline and light. This is where the sun rises first, where long roads trace the edge of the Pacific from the Bay of Plenty toward Hawke’s Bay, and where beaches, headlands and rural communities unfold at their own unhurried rhythm. From surf breaks and vineyard-dotted flats to remote bays and forested inland routes, Tairāwhiti feels open, grounded and refreshingly unconcerned with the rush elsewhere.
 
If you’re searching for the top things to do in Gisborne and the East Coast, you’ll find experiences defined by space and simplicity. Wander Gisborne’s waterfront and cafés, follow State Highway 35 as it threads coastal settlements north toward Ōpōtiki, pause at beaches where you might be the only footprints in the sand, or continue south through river country toward Wairoa. Inland, the journey shifts again, leading toward Lake Waikaremoana and deeper stillness. Here, the journey matters just as much as the destination.
 
This is your essential guide to Gisborne and Tairāwhiti – highlighting standout coastal stops, scenic drives and quietly memorable places to explore across the Ōpōtiki, Gisborne and Wairoa districts, so you can travel the East Coast with intention, ease and a genuine feel for Aotearoa’s eastern edge.