East Cape Shipwrecks

Lottin Point (Waihau Bay)

Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve

New Zealand cuisine features fresh Pacific seafood, lamb, and dairy products with strong Maori and Pacific influences. Green-lipped mussels, Bluff oysters, crayfish, and blue cod are regional specialities. The hangi, a traditional Maori earth oven feast, is a cultural dining experience. The craft beer and wine scene is world-class, with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Central Otago Pinot Noir among the finest globally. Farm-to-table dining and artisan food producers are abundant throughout both islands.

The Riverhouse Hotel

Gisborne Beach Motel

East Cape Holiday Park

Tokomaru Bay Lodge

East Cape and Gisborne represent one of New Zealand's least explored and most pristine diving frontiers, where remote rocky reefs, kelp forests, and marine reserves offer diving experiences far removed from the tourist trail. Lottin Point at Waihau Bay provides pristine rocky reefs with huge crayfish, dense kelp forest, and kingfish in water that sees very few divers. The Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve near Gisborne protects sheltered rock pools, juvenile fish nurseries, and excellent macro diving in a culturally significant coastal area. The coastline holds scattered remains of several historical shipwrecks including the Star of Canada and Mokoia, some accessible as shore dives despite limited infrastructure. The region's isolation ensures that marine life is abundant and unaccustomed to divers, creating extraordinary close encounters. The East Cape is also the first populated place in the world to see the sunrise each day, adding a unique cultural dimension to any diving trip. While infrastructure is limited compared to more popular dive destinations, the rewards of diving this untouched coastline include pristine reefs, large marine life, and a genuine sense of exploration.

East Cape & Gisborne

Drive from Auckland approximately 6 hours to Gisborne or 8 hours to East Cape

Dive Sites in East Cape & Gisborne

East Cape Shipwrecks

Lottin Point (Waihau Bay)

Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve