Today is our last day in Gisborne and we have to admit that we have enjoyed the last three days. Firstly the motel has been very comfortable
But the one thing that has made the stay so enjoyable has been the weather - admittedly it has been hot, hot, hot.
One thing that we have noticed about Gisborne is that it is a totally different place to anywhere else that we have been to. Most of the places that we have visited have had a "holiday" feel to them but Gisborne is different in that it is more of a residential city although it is fairly new having only been built around about the 1900's and having suffered major cyclone damage in 1988. Along with the majority of New Zealand Gisborne was another of the places that Captain James Cook first set foot on and there is the obligatory statue to him here. I have to say that when you see and read the exploits of Cook you can only admire the man - how somebody could sail half way round the world, keep control of his ship and men and encounter the Maori warriors is nothing short of incredible.
Today we went to Eastwoodhill Arboretum which is about 35km outside of Gisborne. We were not sure what it was going tom be like but were pleasantly surprised at not only the size if the place but at the views and scenery
There are several well signposted walks around the grounds - one of which takes you up to the "summit". This is a fairly steep walk but is well worth the effort for the views - some of the best that we have seen in NZ.
Tomorrow we set off for Napier