ROAD TRIP - Napier to Pahiatua

A journey through Hawke’s Bay

Napier to Pahiatua Classic Wine Trail Part One, via SH 2 2hr 10min, 165km

Many fascinating villages and towns chockablock with character speckle this route, all offering a good reason to stop, shop and explore.

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.

Art deco performers, Napier

© Art Deco Trust

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 and cellar 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.

Decibel Central, Hastings

© DWB

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 Butchery and the excellent Central Hawke’s Bay Settlers Museum.

WOODVILLE sits halfway between Napier and Wellington at the junction of SH 2 and SH 3. Famous for its antique, collectible and second-hand shops, it’s a great spot for bargain-hunters.

MANGATAINOKA The main landmark of Mangatainoka is the Tui Brewery with its historic brick tower. Take a tour of the adjacent state-of-the-art brewery and Tui museum, and stay for lunch.

WAIPUKURAU A small, rural town with an affection for aviation; gliders and hot air balloons litter the sky. Farm stays are popular, too.

Espresso Loco, Waipukurau

© Hawke’s Bay Tourism

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.

ART DECO Napier is famous for its glorious art deco architecture and every February the Napier Art Deco Festival erupts over five fabulous days with scores of dazzling events. Dressing to impress is highly encouraged.

MARINE PARADE Along the Napier prom you’ll find The National Aquarium of New 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.

Statue of Pania, Marine Parade, Napier

© AATP

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 and gallery. As well as art collections, there’s an exhibition on the 1931 earthquake, short films and 90,000 objects of interest.

THE FARADAY CENTRE Hawke’s Bay’s Museum of Technology. Visitors are encouraged to touch, hold and pull everything they can get their hands on.

MTG Hawke’s Bay

© MTG

TOP WALKS

MARAETOTARA FALLS Come summer, take a short detour from Havelock North to discover this beautiful waterfall and popular, deep swimming spot in the summer months.

PEKAPEKA WETLANDS Various walking tracks stretch over 98 hectares alongside SH 2, just south of Hastings.

SHINE FALLS TRACK A 1.5-hour drive away from Napier, you can visit Hawke’s Bay’s most spectacular waterfall. The track leads to the base of the waterfall and passes through farmland and beneath towering sandstone bluffs. It’s a 1.5-hour return walk.

TE MATA PARK is one of Hawke’s Bay’s premier recreation areas. With extensive mountain biking trails, walking tracks and extravagant views from the mighty peak itself,it’s the ideal spot to stretch your legs.

Te Mata Peak, Havelock North

© 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.

> Shine Falls

> National Aquarium of New Zealand

> Pania of the Reef Statue

> MTG – Napier’s Museum, Theatre and Gallery

> Art Deco Walking Tour

Dome at dusk on Marine Parade, Napier

© Adobe Stock

As the starting point for the Classic Wine Trail, Hawke’s Bay is, of course, vineyard country and Napier is at its epicentre, 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.

Gannets, Cape Kidnappers

© Adobe Stock

HASTINGS

OCEAN BEACH Take a 30-minute drive from Hastings to this beautiful beach that is popular with surfers and families. Surfcasting is also a productive activity here.

PEKAPEKA REGIONAL PARK Stroll around this peaceful wetland area, across the boardwalks and spot the eels beneath.

MUNICIPAL BUILDING This iconic historic building has undergone a makeover and is ready to rejoin Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts and Events Centre.

CORNWALL PARK Centrally located and spread over 8ha, you’ll uncover monuments, pretty gardens and a playground for both wet and dry play.

SPLASH PLANET An epic waterpark, jam-packed with fun, perfect for cooling off over the summer months.

Downtown Hastings

© DWB

CLASSIC WINE TRAIL PART ONE

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

F.A.W.C! Giants Garden Party

© Hawke’s Bay Tourism

HAWKE’S BAY VINEYARDS

There’s no denying that Hawke’s Bay is synonymous with fine wine. Famous for full-bodied reds and distinctive chardonnays, the Bay is New Zealand’s oldest wine region, producing since the 1850s. With sea breezes and high sunshine hours creating a Bordeaux-like climate, Hawke’s Bay’s vineyards are a must-do, whether you’re tasting local tipples at a cellar door or enjoying a leisurely lunch.

F.A.W.C! A Taste of the Season

© Hawke’s Bay Tourism