Gisborne Stay Put
From $1190.00 per person
The first city in the world to see the sun each day, is located on the sunny East Coast of the North Island. The Maori name for the district is Tairawhiti which means "The coast upon which the sun shines across the water". Kaiti Beach, near the city, was where the Maori immigrational waka, Horouta, landed; and is also the first European landing place in New Zealand. Captain Cook first set foot here in 1769. European settlement was established in 1831 and the town which developed was named after Hon. William Gisborne, the Colonial Secretary, in 1870. Prior to this the settlement was known as Turanga but confusion with Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, led to the name change. To the early Maori the Poverty Bay area was known as Turanganui-a-Kiwa, "The stopping place of Kiwa". Gisborne became a borough in 1877 and a city in 1955.
Wednesday 17 January - Sunday 21 January 2018
DAY 1 - Wednesday 17 January 2018 HAMILTON – GISBORNE (D) We begin our Tour travelling via Taupo where we will have a brief stop for a cuppa before continuing to Napier, the Art Deco City. Time will be allowed in Napier for you to purchase your own lunch. We will then continue up the coast along the Hawke Bay route through Wairoa and the Wharerata’s. This afternoon we arrive in Gisborne and make our way to our accommodation.Quality Emerald Hotel, Gisborne – 4 nights
DAY 2 - Thursday 18 January 2018 GISBORNE (BD) Today will be an easy day and we will set off after having a combined morning tea at the Hotel. We will then venture out and about doing a sight seeing tour of Gisborne City as well as a trip up Kaiti lookout, and visit the historical sites in Gisborne city where Captain Cook first landed in New Zealand in 1769. This afternoon we visit two places of interest within the city area. The Milennium Wall and the Tairawhiti Museum. The millennium wall was built for the Year 2000 celebrations. The wall sits looking out over Midway Beach along Gisborne city's foreshore. The view from the wall is across the bay towards Young Nick's Head and Kaiti Beach The museum and art gallery has a reputation as one of the very best, most innovative regional museums in New Zealand. In recent years we have undergone significant change including major building extensions, redevelopment of all exhibition spaces. Free time this afternoon to allow you to prepare yourself for seeing in the New Year.
DAY 3 - Friday 19 January 2018 GISBORNE TO TOLAGA BAY (BD) Today we head ‘up the coast’ to experience the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway. A brief stop will be made at Dive Tatapouri with the opportunity to hand feed wild stingrays, walking out on to the reef in waterproof waders to see these magnificent sea creatures up close and personal. Animals you may see: Short Tailed Stingray, Eagle Rays, Yellow Tailed Kingfish, Trevelly, Kahawai, Crayfish, Octopus, Conger Eel. We then continue on to Tolaga Bay and stroll down the historical Tolaga Bay Wharf, all the while learning the rich history of our early visitors. Today we ask that you purchase your lunch prior to departing Gisborne so we can have a picnic lunch to eat on our travels.
DAY 4 - Saturday 20 January 2018 RERE AND EASTWOODHILL ARBORETUM (BD) Today we drive 35 minutes inland from Gisborne to picturesque Rere Waterfall. We then continue to the Eastwoodhill Arboretum which is the National Arboretum of New Zealand, with the largest collection of exotic trees in the Southern Hemisphere. The botanical collection planted by Douglas Cook is regarded as the largest and most comprehensive collection of Northern Hemisphere trees south of the equator, encompassing an area of 135 hectares. This collection could never be imported today due to stringent bio-security restrictions, hence its great value to New Zealand and the wider world. This value has been recognised with the acknowledgement of Eastwoodhill as the ‘National Arboretum of New Zealand'.
DAY 5 - Sunday 21 January 2018 GISBORNE – HAMILTON (B) This morning is the last day of our tour. Returning home we travel via the Waioeka Gorge route through Ohope, and Whakatane before arriving back in Hamilton.
DAY 2 - Thursday 18 January 2018 GISBORNE (BD) Today will be an easy day and we will set off after having a combined morning tea at the Hotel. We will then venture out and about doing a sight seeing tour of Gisborne City as well as a trip up Kaiti lookout, and visit the historical sites in Gisborne city where Captain Cook first landed in New Zealand in 1769. This afternoon we visit two places of interest within the city area. The Milennium Wall and the Tairawhiti Museum. The millennium wall was built for the Year 2000 celebrations. The wall sits looking out over Midway Beach along Gisborne city's foreshore. The view from the wall is across the bay towards Young Nick's Head and Kaiti Beach The museum and art gallery has a reputation as one of the very best, most innovative regional museums in New Zealand. In recent years we have undergone significant change including major building extensions, redevelopment of all exhibition spaces. Free time this afternoon to allow you to prepare yourself for seeing in the New Year.
DAY 3 - Friday 19 January 2018 GISBORNE TO TOLAGA BAY (BD) Today we head ‘up the coast’ to experience the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway. A brief stop will be made at Dive Tatapouri with the opportunity to hand feed wild stingrays, walking out on to the reef in waterproof waders to see these magnificent sea creatures up close and personal. Animals you may see: Short Tailed Stingray, Eagle Rays, Yellow Tailed Kingfish, Trevelly, Kahawai, Crayfish, Octopus, Conger Eel. We then continue on to Tolaga Bay and stroll down the historical Tolaga Bay Wharf, all the while learning the rich history of our early visitors. Today we ask that you purchase your lunch prior to departing Gisborne so we can have a picnic lunch to eat on our travels.
DAY 4 - Saturday 20 January 2018 RERE AND EASTWOODHILL ARBORETUM (BD) Today we drive 35 minutes inland from Gisborne to picturesque Rere Waterfall. We then continue to the Eastwoodhill Arboretum which is the National Arboretum of New Zealand, with the largest collection of exotic trees in the Southern Hemisphere. The botanical collection planted by Douglas Cook is regarded as the largest and most comprehensive collection of Northern Hemisphere trees south of the equator, encompassing an area of 135 hectares. This collection could never be imported today due to stringent bio-security restrictions, hence its great value to New Zealand and the wider world. This value has been recognised with the acknowledgement of Eastwoodhill as the ‘National Arboretum of New Zealand'.
DAY 5 - Sunday 21 January 2018 GISBORNE – HAMILTON (B) This morning is the last day of our tour. Returning home we travel via the Waioeka Gorge route through Ohope, and Whakatane before arriving back in Hamilton.
