Paddling near Gisborne, Gisborne

Gisborne sits at the heart of the Tairāwhiti region on the East Coast of the North Island, where the Taruheru, Waimata, and Tūranganui rivers converge before reaching the coast. The city's rivers are calm enough for beginners yet culturally significant — these are the ancestral waterways of Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, paddled by waka long before kayaks arrived. Beyond the city, the wider Tairāwhiti hinterland holds rivers like the Mōtū and Ruakituri for more adventurous paddlers, while Boydy SUP runs lessons and hire for those wanting to explore by stand-up paddleboard.