Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GISBORNE WINERIES
With hot summers and fertile loam soils, the Waipaoa River valley to the northwest of Gisborne is one of New
Zealand's foremost grape-growing areas. The region is traditionally famous for its chardonnay but is increasingly
noted for gewürztraminer and pinot gris. See www.gisbornewine.co.nz for a cellar-door map. Opening hours scale
back out of peak season. Five of the best:
Bushmere Estate ( 06-868 9317; www.bushmere.com ; 166 Main Rd, Matawhero; 11am-5pm Wed-Sun)
Great chardonnay, gewürztraminer, cafe lunches at the Bond Room (lunch mains $8 to $18, dinner Friday and
Saturday only $16 to $28), and live music on summer Sundays.
Kirkpatrick Estate ( 06-862 7722; www.kew.co.nz ; 569 Wharekopae Rd, Patutahi; 11am-4pm) Sustain-
able winery with lovely wines across the board, including a delicious malbec. Enjoy an antipasto platter in the
sun.
Matawhero ( 06-867 6140; www.matawhero.co.nz ; Riverpoint Rd, Matawhero; 11am-5pm Thu-Mon,
daily Jan) Home of a particularly buttery chardy. Enjoy your picnic in bucolic splendour, accompanied by a flight
of fine wines.
Millton ( 06-862 8680; www.millton.co.nz ; 119 Papatu Rd, Manutuke; by appointment Feb-Nov,
10am-5pm daily Dec & Jan) Sustainable, organic and biodynamic to boot. Bring a picnic and kick back surroun-
ded by sturdy-trunked vines.
Gisborne Wine Centre MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 06-867 4085; www.gisbornewine.co.nz ; Shed 3, 50 The Es-
planade; 10am-5pm Sun-Wed, to 7pm Thu-Sat) Harbourside spot with a wide selection of the region's vino
to sample (…the pervasive sea-scent may be hard to reconcile with the chardy on your palate).
Activities
Water Sports
Surfing is mainstream in Gisborne, with the teenage population looking appropriately
shaggy. Waikanae Beach and Roberts Road are good for learners; experienced surfers get tubed
south of town at the Pipe , or east at Sponge Bay and Tuamotu Island . Further east along SH35,
Wainui and Makorori also have quality breaks. There's safe swimming between the flags at
Waikanae and Midway Beach .
Surfing With Frank
( 06-867 0823, 021 119 0971; www.surfingwithfrank.com ; lessons $50-75) Surfing with Frank offers les-
sons at Wainui, as well as tours of the best East Coast and Taranaki breaks. Three-hour
board and wetsuit hire $30.
SURFING
Rere Rockslide
SWIMMING
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