Gisborne, New Zealand

Captain Cook Memorial, Gisborne
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Captain_Cook_memorial,_Gisborne.jpg
Author: Pseudopanax


Gisborne (Maori: Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa) is a town on the eastern coast of North Island, New Zealand. It is the main town in in Gisborne Region, and has a population of 34,000 people (2011 estimate). The city is located on the northern end of Poverty Bay, across from Young Nick's Head, a promontory jutting into the ocean.

Gisborne was the part of New Zealand that was first sighted by the crew of Captain James Cook's ship Endeavour. It was named after Colonial Secretary William Gisborne. Today a memorial marks the spot where Cook landed in New Zealand for the first time, on 8 October, 1769. Young Nick's Head commemorates Nicholas Young, the boy on Cook's ship who was the first person to sight New Zealand.

A largely farming community, Gisborne today maintains its small-town feel. The economy of the town is supporting by agricultural activities such as farming, gardening and forestry. The town experiences a temperate maritime climate. The warmest month is January, with average high temperature of 24.9°C (76.8°F). July is the coldest month, when average low temperature drops to 4.5°C (40.3°F). June is the wettest month in Gisborne, receiving 125 mm (4.92 in) of rain.

View of Young Nick's Head from Kaiti Beach, Gisborne
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Young_Nick%27s_Head_from_Kaiti_Beach.jpg
Author: Hoihogizzel

Visiting Gisborne

There are long-distance buses connecting Gisborne with main towns on the North Island. Driving there from Auckland or Wellington takes a whole day.

Sights & Attractions to visit in Gisborne

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