East Cape Hotels Near Sacred Sites and Coastal Pā
Each stay here places you close to the spirit of the coastline — to lands still whispered across tides and trees.
Tatapouri Bay Eco Retreat
Wake to the first sunrise touching the Pacific Ocean.
This simple retreat lets you step straight onto the beach, where the ocean's horizon holds generations of hope and discove
Location: Tatapouri Bay — near ancestral fishing grounds and coastal pā
Price Per Night: $140 – $190
Motu Trails Inn
Rest on the edge of wild land and living history.
Near the start of the Motu Trails and close to ancient pā, this small inn feels part of the landscape itself — rugged, peaceful, and full of life.
Location: Opotiki — gateway to coastal walks and heritage trails
Price Per Night: $160 – $210
Whakatō Lodge
Breathe in the calm where river and forest meet the sea.
Whakatō Lodge offers private cabins and open spaces near cultural landmarks that have anchored Māori life for centuries.
Location: Gisborne outskirts — near river trails and cultural reserves
Price Per Night: $180 – $230
Pacific Harbour Motor Inn
Watch the sun set behind hills rich with history.
This inn stands where the Waimata and Taruheru Rivers meet — once important waterways for settlement and trade.
Location: Central Gisborne — near historic pā and town beaches
Price Per Night: $200 – $250
Tatapouri Bay Glamping Pods
Fall asleep under a sky unbroken by city lights.
Modern, eco-conscious pods just steps from the ocean, offering nights alive with stars and mornings filled with seabird song.
Location: Tatapouri Coast — near pā sites and traditional fishing beaches
Price Per Night: $190 – $240
Teal Motor Lodge
Find quiet among ancient pōhutukawa and garden paths.
Close to city attractions yet tucked away in nature, Teal Motor Lodge blends access with ease.
Location: Gisborne — central yet peaceful near historical reserves
Price Per Night: $170 – $220
Portside Hotel
Stay where tides still mark the rhythm of life.
Portside offers modern riverside accommodation with easy access to the town’s Māori heritage walks and early landing sites.
Location: Gisborne waterfront — overlooking historic river junctions
Price Per Night: $240 – $310
Waikanae Beach Motel
Walk straight from your door to sands where ancestors first arrived.
Simple, coastal lodgings on a beach where sunrise and memory meet, perfect for those drawn to the edge of Aotearoa’s first landings.
Location: Waikanae Beach — Gisborne coastal strip
Price Per Night: $150 – $190
Travel Respectfully
When visiting pā sites and beaches of ancestral significance, approach with humility. Follow tikanga where offered, tread softly through dunes and forests, and always move with gratitude for the life still held in these lands.
Explore More Destinations
Trace the stories further inland to Rotorua or return north to the historic heart of Te Tai Tokerau.
From the Blog
East Cape Hotels Where History Meets the Horizon
Following Ancestral Footsteps: Places to Stay on the East Coast
