Gisborne District

Gisborne gets the sunrise first, being out on the East Cape where the country leans into the Pacific. It’s the spot Cook first stepped ashore, the surf at Wainui is the genuine article, and the chardonnay’s good enough that they’ll remind you about it.

Tairāwhiti is gloriously out of the way. The drive in from any direction takes a while, which keeps it relaxed, a bit isolated, and refreshingly itself. Beaches, vineyards, big skies and a strong Māori heart give the place a character that the more polished spots can’t fake.

There are over 100 suburbs and settlements across the district, from the city to the coast to the rural reaches up the Cape. This page gathers them so you can compare properly: who lives where, what you’ll pay, how the schools sit, and how far each spot is from the surf and the shops.

First light, good waves and no rush whatsoever. Pick a suburb and have a proper look.