When to Visit Tairāwhiti Gisborne: A Seasonal Guide

In Tairāwhiti, the forecast is usually: magic. Long days, blue skies, and fresh coastal air are the norm - no matter the season. Sure, we have our cooler spells and wetter weeks out here on the edge of the South Pacifics, but even then, it’s all part of the charm. Pack a rain jacket and your togs, and you’ll fit right in. Whether you’re after waterfalls or wineries, sizable swells or sandy strolls, the seasons shape the story out here - and each one brings a new way to play.

Explore the four moods of Tairāwhiti below.

SUMMER

The Sun-Soaked Season

Togs, jandals, roadies, repeat. With warm temps and long daylight hours, summer in Tairāwhiti means ocean swims, surf lessons, slippery rockslides, and seafood straight off the line. Think firm and fast links golf, music festivals in full swing, back-to-back beach swims, ginormous ice creams, and long, golden evenings. The iconic hydroslide, hidden waterfalls, and beach barbecues - this is peak playtime. Sandcastles: activated. They don’t call it Sunny Gisborne for nothing.

Average high: 24.1°C | Jan is warmest

AUTUMN

Golden Hour, All Day

Autumn arrives fashionably late on the East Coast - often losing the wrestle to a few extra weeks of summer goodness. March and April still bring beach days, quieter lineups, and the first signs of serious swell. Inland, the trees turn golden at Eastwoodhill Arboretum, and the air’s crisp enough for countryside rambles and slow-roll railbike rides. Bring a jacket (it’s still New Zealand), but also your jandals. Come for the colour, stay for the slower pace and sneaky beach days.

Average high: 19.8°C | March is warmest

WINTER

Cosy Coast Vibes

Low sun, glassy mornings, and east-facing beaches built for winter swells. This is when the big sets roll in - pack your steamer and paddle out, or just watch from the dunes. Later, trade the wetsuit for something dry and local, and maybe slip into your Red Bands (gumboots optional, but encouraged). And when night falls, look up - our winter skies are some of the clearest in the country.

Average high: 16.2°C | June is warmest

SPRING

Wine Country Awakens

Spring’s when Tairāwhiti quietly hits refresh. The layers come off, the market crowd thickens, and locals start claiming outside tables like it’s a sport. The surf’s still decent, the vineyards perk up, the trails are good to go, long-lunches slide back into the DMs, and everything smells a bit more alive. Not quite summer, not still winter - it’s the in-between that does its own thing. We’re just getting started.

Average high: 19°C | November is warmest