Great chardonnay, gewürztraminer and cafe lunches at sassy restaurant The Vines (www.bushmerevines.co.nz; mains $25 to $34). Live music on summer Sundays sets the scene.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Matawhero Church

0.6 MILES

Some 7km west of the town centre in the suburb of Matawhero, this historic Presbyterian church is the only building in the village to have survived the…

2. Matawhero

1.01 MILES

Enjoy a picnic in bucolic splendour, accompanied by a flight of fine wines. Matawhero is home to a particularly buttery chardy, refined over almost 50…

3. East Coast Museum of Technology

1.13 MILES

Think analogue not digital; old-age not space-age. About 6km west of the town centre, this improbable medley of farm equipment, fire engines and sundry…

4. Millton Vineyards & Winery

3.15 MILES

Sustainable, organic, biodynamic... Millton makes all the right moves, and makes them well. Bring a picnic and kick back surrounded by sturdy-trunked…

5. Gisborne Botanic Gardens

3.75 MILES

The town gardens are sitting pretty beside the Taruheru River – a beautiful spot for a picnic and a romp around the big playground. Wiggle through the NZ…

6. Statue of Young Nick

3.86 MILES

There's no let-up in Gisborne's Endeavour endeavours: in the riverside park is a dynamic statue of Nicholas Young, Captain Cook’s cabin boy, whose eagle…

7. Clock Tower

3.9 MILES

Built in 1934, this art-deco clock tower is the undisputed highlight of Gisborne's main street.

8. Captain Cook Statue

3.97 MILES

One of Gisborne's gaggle of Captain Cook commemorations, part of which is a globe etched with his roaming routes.