5-Day Gisborne Itinerary
We Know Because We Did It!
Make the most of your venture to New Zealand‘s Eastland region with this itinerary for 5 days in Gisborne!
This five-day sample itinerary for Gisborne incorporates a bit of all travel styles, from wine tastings to surfing to cultural activities such as the local museum.
Most of the activities are affordable too, with budget kept in mind.
So get inspired for your time “out east” with this five-day Gisborne itinerary!
While you’re here, you might also be interested in The Complete Guide to Gisborne.
Side note: Our itinerary is from travel writers who have genuinely visited Gisborne, not copied or generated by AI. Scroll to the bottom of the page to learn more about us!
Table of Contents
Where to Stay in Gisborne
First things first, where should you base yourself for five days in Gisborne? Here are our personal recommendations with something for everyone:
Get more advice with our 20 Best Hotels & Places to Stay in Gisborne.
© NZPocketGuide.comDay 1 – Surf Lesson, the Tairawhiti Museum and Beer Tasting
Morning – Surfing on Waikanae Beach
Where: Roberts Road
Start the day off with a refreshing surf at Gisborne’s Waikanae Beach!
If you’re a pro, simply hire a board from in town and enjoy the cruisy waves at the end of Roberts Road. Otherwise, get a surf lesson with Salt Shack Surf School or Surfing with Sarah.
With a sandy seabed, consistent waves and some stellar sunrises, learning to surf on Waikanae Beach is a safe and beautiful place to start the day.
Afternoon – Tairawhiti Museum
Where: 10 Stout Street
After you’ve dried off from your surf lesson, spend some time warming up indoors at the Tairawhiti Museum.
This regional museum for Gisborne has a wealth of fascinating exhibitions, from the Māori history to the evolution of the surfboard (just to keep things on theme). There is a small entry fee.
Evening – Sunshine Brewery
Where: 49 Awapuni Road
End the day with a nice cold beer or an entire tasting tray at the Sunshine Brewery.
The Sunshine Brewery has been turning out naturally brewed beers since 1989, making it the second-oldest independent brewery in New Zealand!
Whether that fact impresses you or not, the brewery is a good place to try some of that famous New Zealand craft beer.
© NZPocketGuide.comDay 2 – Eastwoodhill Arboretum, Rere Falls, Rere Rockslide and the Gisborne Wine Centre
Morning – Eastwoodhill Arboretum
Where: 2392 Wharekopae
Travel Time: 1 hour
Set off toward Wharekopae Road to the Eastwoodhill Arboretum.
This is the national arboretum of New Zealand covering 131 hectares with exotic and native trees.
There are 25 km of walking trails to enjoy, more than 40 species of birds to be seen, and one curator tour to join should you want to dive deeper into the Arboretum experience.
Afternoon – Rere Falls & Rere Rockslide
Travel Time: 15 minutes
Just 15 minutes further down the road from Eastwoodhill is the breathtaking Rere Falls. This 20 m (66 ft) wide and 10 m (33 ft) tall cascade is a great picnic and photo spot before making your way around the corner to the Rere Rockslide. This natural rockslide attracts hundreds of visitors each summer equipped with bodyboards and inflatables of all kinds!
Join in on the fun by sliding down the waterslide into a freshwater pool.
Evening – Wine Tasting & Dinner at the Gisborne Wine Centre
Where: 50 The Esplanade
Travel Time: 1 hr 15 minutes
After the day’s excitement, sit down with a glass in hand at The Gisborne Wine Centre.
Either book a guided wine tasting to learn more about the region’s wineries or just simply enjoy a glass alongside dinner at the centre’s Crawford Road Kitchen.
© NZPocketGuide.comDay 3 – City Cycle Tour, Sailing on the MV Takitimu and Watching a Movie at the Dome Cinema
Morning and Afternoon – City Cycle Tour
Where: 209 Grey Street
Hire a bike from the Gisborne i-SITE or Experience Gisborne, grab yourself a cycle map and explore the city highlights by bike.
Ride through the picturesque Botanical Gardens, along the Taruheru River and on the Waikanae Beach Walkway. Sculptures and statues commemorate the historic first landing of Captain Cook in New Zealand.
Evening – Watch a Movie at the Dome Cinema
Where: Corner of Customhouse Street and Childers Road
The Dome Cinema is more than just watching a movie; it’s a whole dining cinema experience!
Order your pizzas and drinks in the bar then literally get tucked into the plush beanbags by the staff before the arthouse film screening begins.
© NZPocketGuide.comDay 4 – Cider Tasting, Mini Golf & Wine tasting
Morning – Play Gisborne Mini Golf
Where: 209 Grey Street
Don’t know whether to travel to the East Cape yet? Well, get a taste for it at the East Cape and Gisborne-themed mini golf course at the Gisborne i-SITE!
This 18-hole golf course is a fun way to spend an hour while sticking to a budget.
See more activities like this in our 10 Free and Cheap Things to Do in Gisborne.
Afternoon – Wine Tasting and Make Your Own Platter at Wrights Wines
Where: 1093 Wharerata Road, Manutuke
Travel Time: 15 minutes
Indulge in a wine tasting at the cellar door of the Wrights Wines. Sample local wine and build your own picnic from a range of delectable options available at the cellar door.
They provide the picnic box, chopping board, and utensils – you just need to choose your favourite goodies.
See more winery options in our 5 Best Breweries & Wineries in Gisborne.
Evening – Dine at Gisborne’s Reputable Restaurants
Where: The Flagship Eatery – 14 Childers Road, The Works – 41 The Esplanade, or Tahu – 40 Centennial Marine Drive, Awapuni.
Travel Time: 15 minutes
Leave space because there are plenty of fabulous eateries to discover in Gisborne.
For instance The Flagship Eatery is a cool little venue with exposed brick walls, bridge red doors and a delectable menu of eggs benedict, cajun lemon tofu scramble and house-made crumpets.
The Works offers more casual fine dining yet still elegant serving up the latest seasonal offerings with something to suit carnivores to vegetarians.
Alternatively, enjoy beachfront dining at Tahu, which specialises in locally sourced ingredients from Gisborne and indigenous land.
© NZPocketGuide.comDay 5 – Feed Stingrays with Dive Tatapouri
Time-Dependent on the Tide
Where: 532 Whangara Road
Travel Time: 15 minutes
Your final day in Gisborne is an easy-going day but will still end with a bang with the spectacular “Reef Ecology Tour” with Dive Tatapouri.
This activity is tide- and weather-dependen,t but all the details will be clear when you book.
Wade out on a shallow reef with your guide to meet and the short-tailed stingrays and eagle rays.
It’s sure to be one of the most unique things you do in New Zealand!
Have more time left in the day? Be inspired with our 10 Must-Dos In Gisborne, as well as our 10 Gisborne Walks You Can’t Miss.
More About Things to Do in Gisborne
That’s it for our guide to things to do in Gisborne; for more information about exploring this stunning region, check out the following articles:
- Eastland Road Trip Itinerary: Gisborne to Opotiki
- Public Transport in Gisborne
- 10 Free Natural Attractions in Eastland
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Complete Travel Guide to Gisborne.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2025])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2025])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2025])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2025])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2025])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2025])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2025])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2025])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2025])
- Tairāwhiti Gisborne (Regional tourism website)
- Gisborne District Council (Local council website)
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
