Tatapouri Bay

The Gisborne area is perhaps best known as a food and wine hotspot – and there are plenty of places around here where you can sample some of the area’s bounty. Bushmere Estate (25 minutes’ drive) and Matawhero Wines (half an hour) are among the best-rated wineries to visit, with Sunshine Brewery (15 minutes) providing tours for those of you that prefer a beer or two. Meanwhile, your knowledgeable hosts can provide all the insider info about local restaurants. And you may also have noticed that the coastline is pretty stunning here, with several stunning beaches and cliff views to visit within a few minutes’ drive. If you’d like to throw a bit more activity into your seaside days, you can sign up for surf lessons in Gisborne (15 minutes) or just head next door to Dive Tatapouri to organise boat tours and stingray experiences. It’s not all about the coast, though, so it’s worth planning a trip inland at least once – a real highlight being the Rere Rock Slide Waterfall (an hour), where you can slide down the falls on a rubber tube or boogie board if you’re feeling adventurous.