Eastland Must Do's

A stronghold for Maori and a natural wonderland, Eastland is less explored and less well-known, but well worth the journey.

Learn more about Maori culture

Eastland has many magical places to feed your soul and fill up your camera's memory card.

• Make an appointment to visit picturesque Te Poho O Rawiri Marae. The interior of the whare rununga (meeting house) is almost completely covered in fine ancestor carvings and geometric tukutuku (woven panels).
• Take part in the Whale Rider tour - visit Whangara village where the movie was filmed.

Get ready for adventure

You can be daring in Eastland, where nature provides an adventurer's playground.

• Swim with Blue and Mako sharks in a specially designed snorkelling cage.
• Go surfing or body surfing. A local surf guide can take you to the perfect breaks.
• Catch a fishing charter and experience the great ocean fishing that Eastland is famous for.
• Saddle up and go horse trekking over farmland trails and along beaches.
  Enjoy a slippery thrill at Rere Rock Slide, Gisborne's very own natural rock slide.
• Go rafting on the Motu River - trips depart from Opotiki.
• Go pig or deer hunting in Te Urewera National Park, the largest native forest wilderness in the North Island. Permits are available from the Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre, and hiring a guide is strongly recommended.

Experience the serenity of nature 

Expect to be ambushed by the beauty of nature everywhere you look. 

• Walk behind a waterfall at Rere Falls.
• Find Titirangi Domain and Kaiti Hill for views over the Poverty Bay area.
• Enjoy a relaxing soak in the Nikau Pools at Morere Hot Springs, where there's native forest on all sides.
• Enjoy trout fishing, swimming, kayaking or walking around Lake Waikaremoana.
• Drive to Waioeka Scenic Reserve near Opotiki for bush scenery, canoeing and swimming.
• Once all that exploring's done, visit a winery for a relaxing glass of vino - Gisborne is recognised as the 'Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand'.