Gisborne Town & Coastal Drive
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Port
Gisborne, New Zealand
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$69.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 1½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Sunny Gisborne, New Zealand's easternmost city, played an important role in European history, as it was here that Captain James Cook first set foot in New Zealand in 1769. A popular vacation destination, Gisborne is known for its rustic charms and picturesque scenery.
Board your comfortable motorcoach and set off on a panoramic orientation drive -- a pleasant way to spend the day taking in the best of the city's most popular attractions and coastal sights. Gisborne is home to approximately 44,000 people and is the birthplace of a diverse variety of New Zealand notables, including professional surfer Maz Quinn, opera star Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, several Olympic medalists, and the Footrot Flats comic-book creator, Murray Ball.
Your drive takes you past the spot where Captain Cook, the English explorer who discovered the area, first landed and met the native Maori people.
Then, travel up Titirangi (Kaiti) Hill for a photo opportunity, passing a stately marae (a Maori meeting area and house) considered to be the largest in New Zealand. At the top of the hill, you're treated to spectacular views of Poverty Bay and Young Nick's Head -- the latter is the first piece of New Zealand land ever sighted by James Cook's crew and it was named for the young lad who spied it. Your ship at anchor also features in the panorama.
Continue along the shoreline to admire two of the area's premier beaches. Wainui and Okitu are known for their impressive waves, which draw top surfers to hang ten in the neighborhood. Keep your camera ready for a stop at the sand dunes of Lysnar Reserve.
In just a few miles, the scenery changes dramatically, and you'll find yourself in Gisborne's idyllic rural area. Sand gives way to miles and miles of healthy grape vines producing some stunning Hawke's Bay wines. Thirty percent of all wines produced in New Zealand come from this region. Enjoy the view as you drive along roads bordered by sweet-smelling orchards, award-winning vineyards, and lush, fertile plains. You'll also see fields dotted with adorable sheep happily grazing beside quaint farmhouses.
On your return to the city, you'll travel down the main shopping street -- tree-lined Gladstone Road. Named after former British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, the boulevard boasts pretty boutiques, souvenir stores brimming with handcrafted gifts, surf shops and colorful outdoor cafés perfect for a flavorsome local lunch. Guests who wish to stay in town to shop or explore independently are welcome to do so, but must make their own way back to the ship.