Gisborne/East Coast & Hawkes Bay
Gisborne/East Coast & Hawkes Bay
The "east coast" is the part of the North Island that sticks out to the east into the Pacific Ocean. Gisborne is located in Poverty Bay and is the only large town in this very rural area. The east coast is a farming and forestry region, and Poverty Bay is a fine wine growing region. There are a lot of Maoris living in this region.
Hawkes Bay is further south along the east coast and is more heavily populated with the twin cities of Napier and Hastings. Southern Hawkes Bay has a lot of wineries and agriculture, while northern Hawkes Bay has farming. Napier was completely destroyed in an earthquake in 1931 and was rebuilt in a common style of the time - art deco. Much of the central city has been preserved as an open air art deco museum.
What to see?
The centre of Napier for the art deco buildings.
See the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers.
What to do?
Do a wine tour (Hawkes Bay or Poverty Bay). Hawkes Bay even has wine tours by bicycle (its flat enough for this)!
Take a couple of days to leisurely drive around East Cape coastal road.
Where to stay?
Napier, Hastings and Gisborne have a few hotels (no major chains). Other towns are limited in the accommodation. Some coastal areas have motor camps (inexpensive).
How to get around?
Buses connect Napier and Hastings with Wellington and Taupo, as well as with Gisborne and on to the Bay of Plenty.
Easiest to hire a car or walk/use taxi around town.
Napier and Gisborne both have airports with service to Auckland and Wellington.
In Napier, hire a cycle and explore the surrounding plains.
Major events
Art deco festival.
Opera in the vines.
Tips & tricks
Links
When is the best time to visit?
Best weather - summer and autumn
Best music and public events - xxx
Least crowded - winter
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Jan 11, 2006 at 10:17 pm