Eastland is the Eastern part of the
North Island and it is apparently the first place in the world to see the sun rise each day; this may explain a rather large crowd of people who came here on December 31, 1999. Eastland’s major towns are
Gisborne,
Optiki,
Wairoa and
Mahia. The scenery of the region is quite simply wonderful; fresh, cool mountain lakes, peaceful beaches, green farmland and stunning vineyards and a seemingly endless backdrop of the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean. The region is ideal for
camping,
diving,
fishing,
swimming,
surfing and
hiking. There are plenty of amazing walks to choose from; the most rewarding area for hiking is Te Urewera National Park with its untouched native forests; the third largest national park in
New Zealand. After a day’s of hiking travellers can unwind in
Gisborne and treat themselves to a gourmet dinner with local wines and locally grown truffles, cheeses and other delicacies.