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Highway 2: Gisborne to Wairoa, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay
Photo: Felipe Skroski · CC BY 2.0 · cropped

Drives Gisborne, New Zealand Bay of Plenty and the East Cape

Highway 2: Gisborne to Wairoa

SH 2, Wharerata Road · Gisborne → Wairoa

Sweeping49 mi1 hr 10 min3,300 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,700 ftOne way
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The drive

State Highway 2 between Gisborne and Wairoa is the road to Hawke's Bay: 80 km (49 mi) in about an hour and ten minutes, climbing over the Wharerata hills from the edge of Gisborne. The drive starts where SH2 leaves the city and finishes at Wairoa.

On the way it passes Mōrere, home to Morere Hot Springs and a scenic reserve with trails through nikau palm habitat. The curves are mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch, through hill and forest country.

Wairoa sits at the mouth of the Wairoa River on the northern shore of Hawke Bay. It is about 92 km from Gisborne and about 118 km from Napier.

Along the way

  1. Gisborne
  2. Mōrere
  3. Wairoa
Elevation
3,300 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,700 ft
GisborneWairoa
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
GisborneWairoa
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Slips have closed SH2 near Wairoa and Nuhaka after heavy rain in past years, so check NZTA's journey planner first.
  • The road climbs about 3,300 ft in total, with a high point of 1,700 ft.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check NZTA Journey Planner.

Questions about this drive

How long does Highway 2 from Gisborne to Wairoa take?

State Highway 2 from Gisborne to Wairoa is 80 km (49 mi) and takes about 1 hr 10 min.

Is Highway 2 between Gisborne and Wairoa twisty?

State Highway 2 here has mostly gentle curves with one twisty stretch over the Wharerata hills.

Does Highway 2 between Gisborne and Wairoa close?

It can. Slips have closed State Highway 2 near Wairoa after heavy rain, so check NZTA's journey planner.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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More drives near here

All 2 drives in Gisborne, New Zealand ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Highway 2: Gisborne to Wairoa, from Gisborne to Wairoa