With its steep and rugged inland with spectacular beaches and fertile river flats around Gisborne, this far eastern corner of the North Island is one of our most isolated and beautiful regions. A few areas of mild, sub-humid bottom lands lie within a region dominated by bush-clad, steep hills with some land terraces. It’s cool and wet in the ranges, where there is a variety of game, and warm and moist along the coast. Gisborne is one of the sunniest places in the country.

Contemporary distinctive regional foods include: wild red deer and Rusa deer, pig, goat and piko piko, seafood such as crayfish, kina, paua, tarakihi and hapuku. The area is well known for its Angus beef, fruit and vegetables such as navelina oranges, and most of the beans and salad greens sold commercially. The outstanding wines are from the chardonnay, gewürztraminer and chenin blanc varieties.