Napier to Gisborne road trip itinerary

A Napier to Gisborne road trip is one of the best ways to see the North Island’s eastern coast. Spectacular coastline, waterfalls, rainforests, nature reserves and much more are waiting to be explored in this beautiful region! Even better, the driving time from Napier to Gisborne is only a few hours, so there’s plenty of time to get off the beaten track along the way.

You can also spend some time in Napier before setting off – the beachside city and port is the main settlement of Hawkes Bay, famous for its art deco architecture. Acclaimed surf spot Waikanae Beach is well worth a visit to catch some waves before your trip. Below, we share the best places to visit on the ultimate Napier to Gisborne road trip!

Best road trip from Napier to Gisborne – 8 stops you can’t miss

Total distance : 387km | Recommended time : 3-4 days | Best time to visit : spring and summer | Route on Google Maps

1. Tangoio Falls and White Pines

The first leg on a Napier to Gisborne road trip is the drive fromNapier to Tangoio Falls Scenic Reserve (25km), to see the waterfalls of Tangoio and Te Ana. Take the 4km Tangoio Falls walk from the Tangoio Falls parking area, along Kareaara Stream to Te Ana Falls, where you can stop for a splash in the water. Then climb uphill to Tangoio Falls, a three-tiered waterfall in the heart of Tangoio Forest.

Back at the Tangoio Falls parking area, drive 3.8km north to White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve, New Zealand’s remaining coastal forest. Delve into the four hectares of kahikatea (white pine) forest with huge pines, nikau palms and many native bird species: the 250-metre walkway/nature trail has plenty of info.

2. Bell Rock

The Bell Rock Loop Track has been hailed as a hidden gem of Hawkes Bay, and if you take the time to walk it you’ll definitely see why. About an hour’s drive north of Napier, this is a three-hour loop track through native bushland and up the hills of the Maungaharuru Range. The last part of the track finishes on huge rocks set on the edge of a cliff, where you can sit, picnic and take in the wide ranging views below.

White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve to Bell Rock (34km)

3. Shine Falls

Next on your Napier to Gisborne road trip is the 26km drive fromBell Rock to Shine Falls, Hawke's Bay's highest waterfall. There’s a choice of several walks to the waterfall, ranging from a 1.4km family trail to the 8.3km Kamahi Loop Track through tawhairaunui (red beech) and tawhairauriki (black beech) forest. Look out for tuna and eels in the water below the fall, and keep an eye out on your trek for bird species including kōkako, New Zealand falcons and North Island robins.

4. Mohaka River and the Mohaka Viaduct

Another short drive for stop 4, this time heading towards the coast on the 39km journey fromShine Falls to the Mohaka Viaduct. Spanning the Mohaka River in northern Hawke's Bay, the viaduct is one of New Zealand’s top engineering feats – at 276.8 metres long and 96 tall, it’s the biggest viaduct in Australasia!

It won’t take long to snap a few pics of the viaduct and the scenery from the viewpoint, but linger in this region for some time if possible, as the Mohaka River is perfect for picnicking, paddling and whitewater rafting.

5. Mahia Peninsula

Our next Napier to Gisborne road trip stop is one of the most gorgeous destinations on the North Island’s east coast – the picture perfect Mahia Peninsula, where the white limestone cliffs and clear blue waters make for a jaw-dropping vista. Take the Kinikini Road south of Mahia village to Mahia Scenic Reserve, a 374-hectare haven with a lookout over the Wairoa coast.

If you’re a surfer, you can catch some waves here too – try Taylors Bay, Blacks Beach and Waitaniwha Bay; otherwise, the peninsula is a mecca for fishing, boat trips and deep sea diving.

Mohaka Viaduct to Mahia Peninsula (107km)

6. Morere Hot Springs

If you’ve been hiking, diving, surfing and climbing all the way along your Napier to Gisborne road trip (and even if you haven’t), the Morere Hot Springs are a must. Set among 364 hectares of rainforest on northern Hawke’s Bay, the springs produce 250,000 litres a day of hot sea water which is piped to several public and private hot pools.

As with the other scenic reserves on our list, there’s a wide choice of walks among the nikau palms to tackle before or after your dip: look out for native birds including tui, bellbirds and shining cuckoos.

(Note: the springs are only open on three days of the week, currently Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; check opening times before setting out.)

Mahia Peninsula to Morere Hot Springs (46km)

7. Te Wherowhero Lagoon

Approaching Gisborne, stop at the tidal estuary of Te Wherowhero, a birdwatching haven of 200 hectares. It runs parallel to the beach between the Waipaoa River mouth and the Young Nicks Head landmark, named by Captain Cook.

Morere Hot Springs to Te Wherowhero (37km)

8. Eastwoodhill National Arboretum of New Zealand

The penultimate stop on our Napier to Gisborne road trip is Eastwoodhill, the national arboretum of New Zealand. It was founded in 1910 to showcase trees from northern hemisphere climates, and these days is said to have the largest collection of these in the southern hemisphere. 170 endangered species are among the arboretum’s 4,000 trees, shrubs and climbers.

Te Wherowhero to Eastwoodhill (38km)

Things to in Gisborne

We have another must-see once you reach Gisborne! Climb Kaiti Hill in the Titirangi Reserve a few minutes’ drive from the CBD to see the world’s first sunrise, and look over the city and Poverty Bay from one of the four lookouts.

If you want to explore further, check out our Gisborne road trip guide. You can hit the road again from here, or stay in one of theholiday parks and campgrounds near Gisborne to use as a base.

Hire a van for your Napier to Gisborne road trip

Preparing for your Napier to Gisborne road trip is easy. Just sort out campervan hire in Napier and follow our map above for an unforgettable trip! Or maybe you’d prefer to drive from Gisborne to Napier instead? No problem – browse our listings forcampervan hire in Gisborne.

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