Plan

Gisborne is on the East Coast of New Zealand's North Island. It's the easternmost city in the country, which is why it's the first place in the world to see the sunrise each day. Look for Tūranganui-a-Kiwa on the map too, it's the same place, just the Māori name for the city.

Tairāwhiti is its own region. It sits on the East Coast between two other regions: Hawke's Bay to the south, Bay of Plenty to the north. If you're road-tripping between the three, plan extra time, the coastal roads take longer than they look on a map.

Gisborne is roughly a 6-7 hour drive from Auckland and about 2.5 hours from Napier via State Highway 2. Air New Zealand also flies multiple times daily from Auckland and Wellington, and Gisborne Airport is a five-minute drive from town with car hire and taxis on arrival. See Getting Around Tairāwhiti for transport options once you land.

Most visitors reach Gisborne via State Highway 2 from Napier or Auckland/Bay of Plenty. Many continue on to State Highway 35 around the East Cape, one of New Zealand's classic road trip loops, with small towns, beaches and lookouts along the way. Follow our 3-day Highway 35 itinerary for a ready-made route.