First light of the day

Wake up early to catch one of the famous Gizzy sunrises - check out some of the best places to see the first light of the day, or keep it simple and watch it from the beach in Tatapouri - it's beautiful from any angle. 

Fuel up

Grab a hearty brunch and coffee from one of the cafes in and around Gisborne, here's a couple of our suggestions, 

• Zephyr Wainui: Plant-based cafe serving wholefood meals and hot drinks at Wainui Beach
• Flagship Eatery: Located in the heart of Gisborne town centre, Flagship is a popular brunk spot for locals and visitors alike
• Curbside Kitchen: if you're a fan of doughnuts, you don't want to miss a trip to Curbside Kitchen! Their amazing baked goods are the perfect accompaniment with your coffee.
• Gisborne Farmers Market: Be sure to take a stroll through the Gisborne Farmers Market and sample a range of local goodies from around the region. 

Experience the best of Gisborne

For a totally unique experience, jump on one of Gisborne Railbike Adventures' tandem railbikes and explore some of the 90km of scenic coastal railway between Gisborne and Wairoa. No balancing or steering required! 

And it wouldn't be a trip to Gisborne without dipping your toe in the ocean! We've got some pretty great surf breaks along the coast that experienced surfers will be excited to get amongst, but if you're more of a novice, or keen to learn how to surf, grab a lesson with one of the surf schools. Find out more about surfing in Gisborne.

Soak up the sun and sounds at The Longline Classic

Setting a longline is a quintessential part of the kiwi summer and is best served with cold drinks, good music and great company. Located at the iconic Gisborne Soundshell, The Longline Classic marks the unofficial start to summer and is the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon. Packed with tunes from a bunch of kiwi artists, including Mitch James, Katchafire, and Home Brew, as well as great food, brews and views! 

Time: 2:00pm

Location: Gisborne Soundshell

Tickets: Purchase your tickets here

Take it slow

It is a long weekend, after all! Have a sleep in and make the most of the ocean views from your accommodation. From Labour Weekend onwards, Tatapouri Bay Accommodation open up their beachfront cafe serving fresh coffee, smoothies, and bagels - grab a coffee and bite to eat and chill.

First Light Wine & Food Festival

Make the most of the long weekend and take the opportunity to sample some of our region's finest wine and food at this iconic festival. Split across two fabulous wineries - TW Wines and Matawhero Wines - the First Light Wine & Food Festival is a treat for wine lovers. Both wineries will have a selection of wines on offer, including chardonnay, rose, chardonnay viognier, merlot, malbec, and many others that showcase the beautiful flavours of Tairāwhiti Gisborne. 

Aside from great food and wine, there will be music and entertainment at both venues, and buses to transport you between Matawhero and TW Wines. 

Time: 12pm (venues open)

Location: Matawhero Wines and TW Wines

Tickets: purchase your tickets here

Walk it off

Finish off a weekend of snacking and indulging with a cruisy beach walk before heading home. There's plenty of beautiful beaches dotted along the coastline, so this is a great opportunity to explore a little more of Tairāwhiti.