5 minute read
Road Trip - A Journey through Hawke's Bay
Napier to Pahiatua
Napier to Pahiatua - Classic Wine Trail Part One, via SH 2 - 2hr 10min, 165km
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© AA Traveller 2021
Family picking daffodils at Taniwha Daffodils, Waipukurau © Kirsten Simcox
The most scenic route out of Napier follows the long stretch of coastline and passes vast, flat orchards and vineyards, to reach the pretty village of Havelock North.
As you continue south on SH 2, the landscape changes from fruit and wine growing country to the fertile farming hills of Central Hawke’s Bay. Waipawa and Waipukurau offer excellent trout fishing, art, culture and coffee; Norsewood and Dannevirke, once home to Scandinavian settlers, still proudly show off their Viking heritage. They’re both fascinating towns worth spending time to explore.
Further down the highway, Woodville has a collection of very tempting antique and collectible shops.
Ōtāne Market, Hawke’s Bay BOTH IMAGES: © Hawke’s Bay Tourism
NAPIER
Come for the architecture, stay for the wine. Napier boasts the very best of both. Fans of heritage buildings will be in heaven in this picturesque art deco city. Take a walking tour to discover Napier’s history – rising from the ashes after a devastating earthquake destroyed the city in 1931.
Art deco performers, Napier © Art Deco Trust
As the starting point for the Classic Wine Trail, Hawke’s Bay is, of course, vineyard country and Napier is at its epi-centre,with many excellent bars and restaurants showcasing the superb regionally-grown produce and a wide range of equally delectable local wines. A seaside town, the wide oceanfront walkway is a great place to cycle, with trails extending throughout the mostly-flat periphery, from Ahuriri and further north to Bayview, and as far as Clive if you head south.
Top Things to See & Do in Napier
> Art deco walking tour
> MTG – Napier’s museum, theatre & gallery
> National Aquarium of New Zealand
> Pania of the Reef
> Bluff Hill
TOP WALKS
TE MATA PARK one of Hawke’s Bay’s premier recreation areas. With extensive mountain biking and walking tracks and sublime views from the peak itself, it’s the ideal spot to stretch your legs.
Te Mata Peak © Adobe Stock
MARAETŌTARA FALLS Come summer, take a short detour from Havelock North to discover this beautiful waterfall and popular swimming spot.
PEKAPEKA WETLANDS Various walking tracks stretch over 98 hectares alongside SH 2, just south of Hastings.
CAPE KIDNAPPERS This jagged white bluff slides into the Pacific Ocean cliff-by-cliff. You can drive here or walk from Clifton Motor Camp via a 10km coastal walkway.
CAPE KIDNAPPERS GANNETS Come September, the cliffs at Cape Kidnappers are seized by the world’s largest mainland colony of gannets, where they stay until April.
Gannets at Cape Kidnappers © Adobe Stock
BELL ROCK 5.3KM LOOP TRACK An enormous, bell-shaped rock stands grandly on an exposed craggy ledge, dwarfing all those that visit.
Bell Rock, Hawke’s Bay © Adobe Stock
HIGHLIGHTS
HAVELOCK NORTH The area surrounding Havelock North and neighbouring Hastings is the heart of Hawke’s Bay wine country,with more than 70 wineries andcellar doors to discover. You can’t miss one of Havelock North’s most distinctive landmarks – the looming shape of Te Mata Peak,which soars 399m above the village.
WAIPAWA This small country town was established in 1860,making it Hawke’s Bay’s oldest inland settlement. Waipawa is home to Artmosphere, an eclectic gallery on the outskirts of town,the famous Waipawa Butcheryand the excellent Central Hawke’s Bay Settlers Museum.
WOODVILLE sits halfway between Napier and Wellingtonat the junction of SH 2 and SH 3.Famous for its antique, collectibleand second-hand shops, it’s agreat spot for bargain-hunters.
MANGATAINOKA The main landmark of Mangatainoka is the Tui Brewery with its historic brickt ower. Take a tour of the adjacent state-of-the-art brewery and Tui museum, and stay for lunch.
Tui Brewery © DWB
WAIPUKURAU A small, rural town with an affection for aviation; gliders and hot-air balloons litter the sky.Farm stays are popular, too.
NATIONAL AQUARIUM OF NEW ZEALAND Housed in a wave-shaped building on Marine Parade,watch little blue penguins being fed and admire sharks and stingrays swimming overhead in the glass viewing tunnels. For something extra special,book a feeding tour to hand-feed the penguins.
HASTINGS Beautiful old buildings are a real feature of this town centre, yet there is an energetic,contemporary feel to Hastings thanks to a vibrant retail centre, street art and many award-winning restaurants and cafés. Hastings is a great family spot with Hawke’s Bay Farmyard Zoo and Splash Planet water-theme park. Please note that due to COVID-19, Splash Planet will not be open during the summer of 2021-2022 but plans to open again in the future.
MARINE PARADE Along the Napier prom you’ll findThe National Aquarium ofNew Zealand, mini-golf,a BMX and skateboard park, the Sunken Garden,open-air hot pools and Napier Viewing Platform: a contemporary pier that juts over the sea.
HAWKE’S BAY CYCLE TRAILS 200km of easy riding trails, connecting everything you could possibly want in the region– wineries, country pubs, cafés and artisan outlets.
MTG HAWKE’S BAY A museum, theatre andgallery. As well as artcollections, there’s anexhibition on the 1931earthquake, short films and90,000 objects of interest.
THE FARADAY CENTRE Hawke’s Bay’s Museum ofTechnology. Visitors areencouraged to touch, holdand pull everything they canget their hands on.
Art Deco Festival, Napier © Adobe Stock
CLASSIC WINE TRAIL PART ONE
Food & Wine Classic, A Taste of the Season © Hawke’s Bay Tourism
HAWKE’S BAY VINEYARDS
Vines in the Hawke’s Bay © Hawke’s Bay Tourism
WHY NOT TRY:
> Church Road, Napier > Linden Estate, Esk Valley > Elephant Hill, Te Awanga > Trinity Hill, Hastings > Craggy Range, Havelock North > Te Mata Estate, Havelock North > Black Barn, Havelock North > Clearview, Te Awanga > Askerne, Havelock North
