Hawke's Bay Travel Guide
Region
On New Zealand’s east coast, Hawke’s Bay draws visitors for Napier’s Art Deco architecture, extensive vineyards and cellar doors, orchards, and cycling routes along the coast. Beaches, farmer’s markets and Cape Kidnappers’ gannet colony are common reasons to come.
Why Visit Hawke's Bay #
Napier’s Art Deco rebuild after the 1931 quake is an architectural treat - guided walking tours and an annual Art Deco Festival bring the town’s 1930s style vividly to life. Museums and street façades explain the history while cafés and wineries surround the city. It’s one of the world’s most complete Art Deco streetscapes.
Hawke’s Bay is a premier red- and chardonnay-producing region with standouts in Gimblett Gravels and Havelock North. Wine tours pair naturally with excellent regional produce; many wineries offer long lunches and shady terraces. For focused tasting, seek out boutique producers rather than large estates.
Cape Kidnappers is famous for one of the world’s largest gannet colonies; guided tours combine farmland roads and steep coastal views, and the golf course there is world-class. Expect a long day to appreciate the wildlife and landscape. Early booking is essential in high season.
Hastings Farmers’ Market is a lively weekend institution showcasing orchard fruit, cheeses and artisan goods from the region. It’s the place to taste seasonal produce and meet growers directly. Arrive hungry and leave with picnic supplies and local recommendations.
Te Mata Peak offers sweeping vistas over vineyards and the coastline; the Summit Road walk or a short drive rewards with panoramic viewpoints and photography spots. The slopes are great for a brisk morning hike and local legends add character to the trails. Parking can be busy at sunset.
Who's Hawke's Bay For?
Napier’s Art Deco streets and vineyard breakfasts create an elegant, sunny setting for couples seeking relaxed winery lunches and coastal strolls.
Cycling the Rails to Trails routes and beach days at nearby bays suit families; safe wineries often welcome kids during daytime visits.
Backpacker options are limited; affordable guesthouses exist but the region caters more to winery visitors and road-trippers than dorm-style travellers.
Quiet towns with good cafes make short-term remote work possible, but professional coworking hubs and networking opportunities are limited.
Hawke’s Bay’s wine and produce scene is excellent - cellar doors, olive oils and seafood dinners pair well with local Chardonnay and syrah.
Coastal walks and cycling trails around Te Mata provide moderate adventure; extreme sports are less prominent than leisurely outdoor pursuits.
Nightlife is relaxed and seasonal, centred on winery events and weekend bars rather than late-night club culture.
Te Mata Peak vistas, coastal reserves and river estuaries make for pleasant birdwatching and lowland hiking in sunny climates.
Best Places to Visit in Hawke's Bay
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Where to Go in Hawke's Bay #
Napier
Napier is instantly recognisable for its 1930s Art Deco architecture and seaside promenade. The city pairs stylish cafes and galleries with tidy beaches, making it ideal for a relaxed cultural weekend. Regular guided Art Deco tours and the nearby vineyards give you an easy combination of design, history and wine tasting.
Top Spots
- Napier - The world’s best-preserved Art Deco town centre.
- Marine Parade - Seafront promenade and gardens.
- Napier Beaches - Sheltered sands and family-friendly spots.
Hastings & Vineyards
Hastings and the surrounding Wineries form Hawke’s Bay’s gastronomic core, where pinot noir and chardonnay flourish in low-lying plains. Expect vineyard tours, cellar doors and farm-to-table restaurants. Nearby Havelock North offers a charming village atmosphere; the area is excellent for leisurely drives between tastings and orchard stands.
Top Spots
- Hastings - Market town at the heart of Hawke’s Bay agriculture.
- Church Road & Te Mata - Famous cellar doors and tasting experiences.
- Havelock North - Tree-lined village with boutique shops and cafés.
Central Plains
The central plains of Hawke’s Bay are fertile and scenic, punctuated by rolling hills and short peaks like Te Mata. The landscape invites cycling and relaxed drives past orchards, vineyards and farm stalls. This is where you slow down to sample seasonal produce and enjoy broad views across the region’s productive farmland.
Top Spots
- Te Mata Peak - Short hikes with sweeping coastal-to-plains views.
- Riverside Trails - Gentle cycling and walking paths.
- Local farms - Seasonal fruit stalls and pick-your-own options.
Wairoa & Coast
The northern and eastern coastlines are sparsely populated and atmospheric, offering long beaches, surf breaks and a genuine off-the-beaten-track feel. Mahia Peninsula is the most notable beach escape, while Wairoa serves as the service town for coastal adventures. Expect fewer crowds and straightforward camping or beach days.
Top Spots
- Wairoa - Gateway to the northern Hawke’s Bay coast.
- Mahia Peninsula - Surf beaches and remote coastal camping.
- Rivers & Estuaries - Fishing and quiet estuarine walks.
Top Things to Do in Hawke's Bay
All Attractions ›
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- Napier Art Deco precinct - Carefully restored interwar architecture, guided walks and lively cafés reflecting a distinctive 1930s character.
- Te Mata Peak - Prominent hill near Havelock North offering panoramic vistas across vineyards, coast and rolling farmland.
- Cape Kidnappers gannet colony - Large mainland gannet colony reachable by guided farm tours or scenic walk along coastal clifftops.
- Hawke's Bay wineries (Gimblett Gravels) - Renowned red‑wine district with cellar doors and tasting trails clustered around concentrated gravel soils.
- Havelock North village and trails - Attractive town with artisanal food, nearby walking tracks and a relaxed vineyard atmosphere.
- Te Awanga coastal walks - Quiet coastal stretches linking beaches, coastal vineyards and secluded picnic spots.
- Pākōwhai gardens and coastal reserves - Smaller public gardens and headland reserves valued locally for birdlife and shoreline views.
- Mohaka River access points - River access for fishing and rafting, a less‑visited waterway with rugged hill country scenery.
- Napier to Taupō via Thermal Explorer Highway (SH5) - Approximately 200 km route linking Hawke's Bay with central North Island thermal attractions and forests.
- Hawke's Bay winery loop (Havelock North-Blenheim) - Short, flexible driving loop visiting cellar doors, boutique producers and artful vineyard restaurants.
- Coastal drive Napier-Cape Kidnappers-Te Awanga - Local scenic route taking in cliff paths, beaches and vineyard coastlines.
- Esk Valley and Tūtira day trips - Short inland excursions offering waterfalls, native bush and less crowded beaches.
Planning Your Trip to Hawke's Bay #
Weekend Hawke's Bay Itinerary
Weekend in Napier and Hastings: Art Deco architecture, cycle the vineyards, Te Mata Peak hike, and waterfront dining near Ahuriri and olive groves tastings.
Show itinerary- Day 1 - Arrive Napier, Art Deco walking tour
- Day 2 - Cycle vineyard trail and Te Mata Peak walk
- Day 3 - Havelock North village shopping and beaches nearby
1 Week Hawke's Bay Itinerary
Seven days in Hawke's Bay: Napier architecture, Hastings markets, Cape Kidnappers gannet colony tour, Te Mata Peak, winery lunches and coastal walks to Waimārama and river valley drives.
Show itinerary- Day 1 - Napier Art Deco tour and waterfront lunch
- Day 2 - Hastings markets and local producers
- Day 3 - Cape Kidnappers gannet colony tour and reserve
- Day 4 - Te Mata Peak hike and lookout
- Day 5 - Winery lunches around Gimblett Gravels
- Day 6 - Waimārama coastal walk and beach time
- Day 7 - Return via small towns and river valley drives
2 Weeks Hawke's Bay Itinerary
Two weeks around Hawke's Bay and inland hills: Napier, Hastings, Havelock North, Cape Kidnappers, winery circuits, Te Mata hikes, and farm stays in Esk Valley.
Show itinerary- Day 1 - Arrive Napier and evening harbour stroll
- Day 2 - Napier Art Deco and museums
- Day 3 - Havelock North village and culinary visits
- Day 4 - Cape Kidnappers gannet colony and walks
- Day 5 - Winery circuit and vineyard tastings
- Day 6 - Coastal drives to Waimārama and beaches
- Day 7 - Day trip to inland orchards and farms
- Day 8 - Te Mata Peak extended hikes
- Day 9 - Explore local olive groves and producers
- Day 10 - Small-town market days and craft shops
- Day 11 - Relaxed seaside afternoons and swimming spots
- Day 12 - Farm-stay or rural accommodation night
- Day 13 - Scenic photographic drives and sunset spots
- Day 14 - Depart from Napier or Hastings
Getting to & Around Hawke's Bay #
Most travellers fly into Napier Airport (NPE) or drive via State Highway 2; Napier and nearby Hastings are the region’s gateways. Regular domestic flights link Hawke’s Bay with Auckland and Wellington and make short visits straightforward.
Hawke’s Bay is relatively compact and concentrated around coastal Napier-Hastings, so travel times are short and many attractions are within easy driving distance. Because of that, organised wine‑region transport (tours, shuttles) is common, and public transit is limited outside the main urban centres.
- Domestic Flights - Hawke’s Bay is served by Napier Airport (NPE), with regular flights to Auckland and Wellington, making it convenient for short domestic hops. Napier is the main gateway for Hastings and surrounding wine country.
- Rental Car - Driving is the easiest way to visit dispersed wineries and beaches; State Highway 2 links Napier to other North Island centres. Distances across the region are short, so day trips between Napier and Hastings are quick.
- Bicycle - Hawke’s Bay has well‑developed cycling and vineyard trails (the Hawke’s Bay Trails) that are ideal for exploring local wineries and coastline by bike.
- Buses - Regional coach services and local buses connect Napier and Hastings, but services outside the main urban area are limited - tours and shuttles are commonly used for winery routes.
Where to Stay in Hawke's Bay #
Hawke’s Bay is known for wine-country accommodation, boutique lodges and seaside motels in Napier and Hastings. The region caters well to couples and food-and-wine travelers, with many vineyard stays and B&Bs outside town centers.
Napier and Havelock North feature boutique hotels and vineyard lodges aimed at food-and-wine visitors, many with tasting rooms or on-site restaurants. Havelock North is a popular base for winery tours.
Budget guesthouses and small hostels are available in central Napier and Hastings for travelers seeking economical stays close to restaurants and the waterfront. Useful for short stays during busy festival weekends.
Havelock North, Napier and coastal areas near Waimārama offer holiday homes and apartments for families and groups, often within easy reach of beaches and vineyards.
Many vineyards and rural properties run B&Bs and farm stays, combining breakfasts with vineyard tours or olive oil tastings. These are ideal for immersive wine-region stays outside town centres.
Coastal holiday parks around Waimārama and rural campgrounds provide powered sites and cabins popular with families in summer. Book during long weekends and summer school holidays.