Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.possumobservatory.co.nz/astrogas/cook_observatory01.htm
;
public view-
GOOGLE MAP
ing $5;
viewing 8.30pm Tue)
, the world's easternmost star-gazing facility.
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 gewürztramin-
er 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)
Sustainable winery with lovely wines across the board, including a deli-
cious 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 surrounded by sturdy-trunked vines.
www.gisbornewine.co.nz
; Shed 3, 50 The Esplanade; 10am-5pm Sun-Wed, to 7pm Thu-Sat)
Harbourside spot with a wide selection of the region's vino to sample (…the per-
vasive sea-scent may be hard to reconcile with the chardy on your palate).
Eastwoodhill Arboretum
GARDENS
( 06-863 9003;
www.eastwoodhill.org.nz
;
2392 Wharekopae Rd, Ngatapa; adult/child/family
$15/2/34; 9am-5pm)
Arboreal nirvana, Eastwoodhill Arboretum is the largest collec-
tion of northern hemisphere trees and shrubs in the southern hemisphere. It's stagger-
ingly beautiful, and you could easily lose a day wandering around the 25km of themed
tracks in this pine-scented paradise. It's well signposted, 35km northwest of Gisborne.
There's also accommodation (
Click here
)
here.
Gisborne Farmers Market
MARKET
