Hawke’s Bay – Guide for Backpackers

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Visit Napier

Wherever you look for information about Napier, you will stumble upon the same theme: Art Deco. The city is, indeed, all about it!

Art Deco in Napier

A little bit of history: in 1931 a huge earthquake followed by a massive fire destroyed most of the city. When rebuilding it the locals chose to go with an Art Deco style. As a result, Napier has the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the Southern Hemisphere allowing the city to be incredibly different from any other city in New Zealand.

The Art Deco Trust guided tours of the city leave four times a day for those who want to dig deeper into the town’s history. Find out more about the tours on Viator and Tripadvisor. Simply walking down Marine Parade will give you a great feel of the unique vibe, but it’s best to visit the city in mid-February for the famous Art Deco festival. The 1920s and 1930s are celebrated like nowhere else in the world with over 50 events every year! Old cars, jazz music and fancy suits will entertain you during the 3-4 day festival.

Beaches in Napier

On the seaside, Napier also has much to offer. For those that live by the motto: go up to see more, we suggest the 4.5km climb up to Bluff Hill for a dazzling view of the sea and the area. Westshore and Bay View Beach are within walking distance of the city for those that would like to swim or fish.

If you have the opportunity to take the bike trail between those two beaches, do so. You won’t be disappointed! In fact, Hawke’s Bay is extremely well connected with bike trails, from scenic trails to adventurous mountain biking. Check out our Biking in Hawke’s Bay guide here.

For more things to do in Napier, check out Napier – Guide for Backpackers.

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Visit Hastings

A short drive away from Napier, Hastings architecture embraces a very different atmosphere very Spanish mission like.

The city has many parks, which are well maintained, to offer plenty of space to relax. Windsor Park even has a water park, Splash Planet, if you want to have some simple fun during summer (November-April).

Surrounding the city area there is an incredible amount of wineries with top-notch food and wine that you can tour around on your bike. You could visit up to nine wineries in only one easy day of biking. (Visit Mountain Biking in Hawke’s Bay for more information).

If wine is not your thing, at only 400m (1,312ft) high, the Te Mata Peak offers a 360º view of an area covering 150km (93 miles)! Quite impressive, especially at sunset. We like to hike up there but for those that would like to drive, be careful on the last leg of the road it is narrow and there are no guardrails! Find out more about the walks in the area at 10 Wonderful Walks in Hawke’s Bay.

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Stop by Cape Kidnappers

Best seen in November/December, the cape is a protected area with a 9km (5.6-mile) predator-proof fence. It is home to four gannet colonies.

The Plateau colony is the largest mainland gannet colony in the world with thousands of birds each year and one of the most accessible colonies too. Great pictures ahead!

The viewing seasons run from October to April but the public access is highly restricted. Your best bet is to book a tour in a tractor (!) (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor), 4WD (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) or helicopter. Should you want to save some money, hike to the colony along the beach. The hike is about 5 hours and you will have to time it with the low tide.

Aside from the gannets, the cape is also home to many other birdlife including penguins and marine life such as seals. Check out what other animals and birds you can see in New Zealand. For the golfers, the Cape Kidnappers is home to one of the world’s most beautiful golf courses.

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Travel to Northern Hawke’s Bay

Travel north to the borders of Hawke’s Bay and Eastland to Wairoa. This is a great base if you are wanting to explore the Te Urewera Park or do the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk. The 46km (29-mile) track is a 3-4 day hike through ancient forest so sensational viewpoints and secluded beaches along the huge Lake Waikaremoana.

If you are looking for a more relaxing experience, take State Highway 2 north of Wairoa to the Morere Hot Springs amongst some of the last remaining native forest on the east coast.

Nearby to the Morere is Mahia Peninsula. This is particularly popular with surfers who can find consistent waves all year round. Walk along pristine sandy beaches and in wild forest on the Mahia Peninsula walking track. The track is 7km (4 miles) south of Mahia Beach up Kinikini Road. Allow 2h30min to do this loop track.

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Explore Central Hawke’s Bay

Waipukurau in Central Hawke’s Bay’s largest town and is the agricultural hub for the region, so if you are looking for that farm job you always wanted to experience on your New Zealand working holiday…

Incidentally, you’ll also find the world’s longest place name in Central Hawke’s Bay. It is near the delightful little settlement of Porangahau at an otherwise insignificant-looking hill. You can’t miss the sign for its sheer size, but if you want specifics, look out for Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu. At 85 letters, it has been listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest place name.

Meanwhile, on the coast, take a snorkel or dive trip into the Te Angiangi Marine Reserve, which holds an abundance of protected marine life between Blackhead Beach and Aramoana. Stingray Bay and Shelly Beach are the best-sheltered beaches for snorkelling. For more beaches worth visiting, check out 10 Beautiful Beaches in Hawke’s Bay.