Hastings (New Zealand)

• 2 hrs from Taupō on State Highway 5
• 3 hrs from Taihape across the Taihape Road
• 15 min from Napier on State Highway 2
• 1.40 from Palmerston North on State Highway 2
• 1.50 from Wairoa on State Highway 2
• 4 hours from Wellington
• State Highway 2 passes through Hastings at Omahu Road. On the way to Napier from Wellington follow the signs and turn right at the massive roundabout.
• Alternatively, if coming from the south, continue northwards up the road through Pakipaki and you will enter Hastings at Eastbourne Street, 300m from the town centre
• If travelling south from Napier, a very scenic route is Napier's Marine Parade (characterised by rows of Norfolk pines) past Awatoto with the gravel works and continue on the main road. You will get to Hastings after 20 minutes' driving.

• Hawke's Bay Airport is at Napier. It only receives domestic flights, but from many locations in New Zealand. It is almost always open. Hastings is a 20-minute drive south on State Highway 2B.
• Hastings also has the Bridge Pa aerodrome which has a runway capable of landing an Hercules, although no commercial aircraft operate from there. For further information contact: HB & East Coast Aero Club Bridge Pa Aerodrome, Hastings, ph 06 879 8466. If you are interested in aerial activities over Hawke's Bay consult 'do'

• National bus operator InterCity provides daily services in and out of Hastings with connections throughout the North Island. Fares start from $1 and can be purchased online or via numerous local ticketing agents including the i-SITE information network. Services arrive and depart from the main Bus Shelter at 117 Russell St, opposite Subway,

There are about 64 vineyards and wineries in the area around Hastings. Many of them have won international awards for their wine. Because the viticulture industry is so new to Hawke's Bay, most of the buildings and facilities are ultra-modern. The population of Havelock North frequents these locations so they are always busy and always competing, especially on quality, with the other wineries which may be no further away than across the road. Because of the unusually high density of wineries, there are many tours available. Some of the better known ones are listed here.

• Craggy Range Vineyard, 253 Waimarama Rd, Havelock North, ph (06)873 0143. Ultra fancy winery. Very nice setting in the Tukituki valley between the Tukituki River and Te Mata Peak.
• Ngatarawa Wines, 305 Ngatarawa Rd, Bridge Pa, ph +64 6 879 7603. You may already know this wine with its characteristic horse-head label.
• Prenzel on the Bay, 180 Havelock North Rd, Havelock North, ph +64 6 870 8524. Although not strictly a winery, it still offers a delicious range of Schnapps, liqueurs and aux de vies as well as food to indulge yourself in.
• Sileni Estates Winery, 2016 Maraekakaho Rd, Hastings, ph +64 6 879 8768. Has a restaurant, shop, cellar tours and can host conferences and functions.
• Vidal Estate Winery, 913 St Aubyn St East, +64 6 876 8105. This winery is historic, one of the first to be established in Hawke's Bay. As the town expanded, it grew around the winery, leaving it in the middle of Hastings. It has a restaurant, sales, and can host functions.

• Odyssey New Zealand, 219 Kenilworth Rd, ph 0508 ODYSSEY
• Long Island Tours, 20 Reynolds Rd, Havelock North, ph +64 6 877 0977. Offers different types of tours for every taste, or type.

Hawke's Bay's natural abundance is recognized by the regional council's logo: each ‘finger’ represents one of the 5 main rivers. It also has several golden sand beaches. These beaches and rivers are listed from north to south

• Clive River is popular for its water sports including jet boating, kayaking and waka (Maori canoe) rides. No motorized craft are allowed further up the river than the bridge.
• The Tukituki River is generally considered a safe place to take the kids swimming. The favourite spot is ‘Undercliff’ near Havelock North. It is within a 25-min cycle ride from Hastings city centre.
• Haumoana beach has a lovely little seaside settlement. It is generally regarded as an unsafe place to swim, due to dangerous undertows from the many rivers that pour into the bay.
• Te Awanga is another lovely beach settlement - but again, no swimming.
• Clifton. The base from which to explore the Cape Kidnappers mainland gannet colony. It is largest mainland gannet colony in the world and has over 50,000 birds. It is important to check the tides before walking out there as the tide comes up to the cliffs, leaving you to be washed out to sea. There is a café that serves Rush Munroe’s ice cream and other café food. You can book tractor rides out to the gannet colony in the main part of town and there is always room at the Clifton motor camp for another camper van. It is in places not safe to swim at.
• Ocean Beach is Hawke's Bay's premier beach. During the summer months (Nov–Feb) it has hundreds of beachgoers. Golden sand stretches for 10km in either direction from Reneika Point down to Waimarama beach. The sand is compact and even the heaviest 4x4 will have no trouble driving on it. It is a remarkably safe beach for swimming, but the current will carry you down the beach a little. During the busiest months, there are lifeguards who patrol a short stretch of beach near the settlement. There are no shops so you need to bring your own food. Ocean Beach will remain unspoiled for the foreseeable future; a plan in the early 2000s to develop it with a large holiday resort was stopped thanks to local resistance.
• Waimarama Beach is another sandy beach, not quite as spectacular as Ocean Beach, but the citizens of the settlement still call it home. It is a very popular New Year's party beach, so if you go there on New Year's Eve, expect hundreds of drunken teenagers. It is safe to swim at. The island you can see is called ‘Bare Island’ because there is virtually no vegetation on it. It has a New Zealand fur seal colony on the side not visible from the beach. Waimarama has a store for supplies and takeaways.
• Kairakau Beach has a small settlement. It is a long way out from the next nearest settlement, Elsthorpe.

• Te Mata peak offers outdoor activities. Cycling is an option with many cycle paths and the 30-minute walk to the massive redwoods is well worth it.
• The A&P show at the Hawke's Bay show grounds on October 18
• Pernel Fruitworld, 1412 Pakowhai Rd, ☏ +64 6 878 3383, sales@pernel.co.nz. Daily 9am-4pm; tour times vary seasonally. Runs hour-long tours of their orchard, which grows 85 varieties of pip and stone fruit, and educates visitors about how fruit is grown around Hastings. Has historical displays, a cafe and a souvenir shop, as well as the fruit shop selling their produce. 
• There are hot pools in the Kaweka Ranges somewhere in the vicinity of Sherenden, partway between Hastings and Taihape. Ask at the Information centre (corner of Heretaunga and Russell streets) for directions.
• Golf: Cape Kidnappers GC is on the hills east of Te Awanga.

• The Farmers Market Meets every Sunday morning in the A&P show grounds. The two dozen or so stalls sell and showcase the wealth and variety of food produced around Hastings. There is usually a stall or three selling coffee and breakfast burgers and other ready-to-eat food. Open from 8.30 until lunch time. It is recommended you get there early before all the good stuff is sold.

• Pernel Fruit World, having burned down a few years ago, was rebuilt better than ever. They endeavour to sell only the freshest fruit and despise having to use coolstores. Often the fruit sold in the shop was picked in the orchard behind the shop that same day. They have a small fruit themed café 1412 Pakowhai Rd.
• BJ's Bakery has the best pies you will ever taste. It frequently wins four or five 'Best pie in New Zealand' awards at a hit. In fact it has a wall covered with about 30 of these awards. It's suggested you get there before lunch, though, because the nearby workers eat all the pies. 305 Karamu Rd Hastings. Ph (06) 878 8397. It is on Karamu Road but can be a bit hard to find as the main part of Karamu Rd ends at the library, but it does continue on the other side.

• Lantern Light Dairy on the corner of Willowpark and Grove roads sells more KoolsChicken and Chips. The chips must be tasted to be believed. The dairy sells 1.5 tons of chips a week, more than the town's KFC. Informally considered the tastiest chips in the Bay by the locals. 509 Grove Rd Hastings (on the way to Splash Planet).
• Hastings is the 'Fruit Bowl of New Zealand'. This is because it is surrounded by an abundance of market gardens situated around the city on the Fertile Heretaunga Plains. If one is observant they can find several roadside stalls that operate on an honesty box system selling a wide variety of fruits and vegetables ranging from lemons to pumpkins to avocados. Pakowai Gardens on Pakowai road is a classic example of the vast horticultural wealth of Hastings.
• Rush Munro's Ice Cream Gardens sells natural fruit ice creams. 704 Heretaunga St West.

• Mahora Fish Supply, 600 Frederick St, ☏ +64 6 878 3746. Sells a good quality meal of fish and chips and also has a large menu of other fried foods. You can call ahead and pick the food up when you are ready. 
• Golden Spring Restaurant, 617 Heretaunga St, ☏ +64 6 878 7980. Offers a wide range of Chinese buffet food. It has takeaways and a small restaurant. 

• Hastings Top 10 Holiday Park, 610 Windsor Ave, ☏ +64 6 878 6692, fax: +64 6 878 6267, holidaypark@hastingstourism.co.nz. Set in a beautiful tree-packed park-like setting. A short walk to the Windsor creek, Splash Planet water theme park, a dairy and Windsor park. 
• The Rotten Apple Backpackers, 114 Heretaunga St East, ☏ +64 6 878 4363. In the main shopping centre of Hastings, just two shops down from the cinemas. It is just a single doorway opening onto the footpath, so can be a little hard to find. It is near many bars, banks and shops. Great place to stay. 
• A1 BackPackers, 122 Stortford St, ☏ +64 6 873 4285. On busy Stortford St, which is usually known as Stortford Rd by the locals. It is near many international takeaway chains and liquor stores. 
• Eco Lodge Pakowhai, 1000 Pakowhai Rd, ☏ +64 6 876 6997, +64 27 298 8910 (mob), eco.lodge@clear.net.nz. A new backpackers set in two acres of grounds at edge of town. 2.5km from Pak-n-Save supermarket. Bus #12 stops at gate. Dorms, share and twin rooms and cabins. Include wi-fi, full kitchens, TV rooms, laundry facilities, BBQ, hammocks, off-street parking. Bike hire available. Mostly backpackers long stay for seasonal work. From $25pp. 

• Fantasyland Motel, corner of Sylvan Rd and Jervois St, ☏ +64 6 876 8159. Named after the nearby theme park Fantasyland that became Splash Planet. The motel maintained its name and characteristic donut shape. 
• Valdez Motor Lodge, 1107 Karamu Rd Nth, ☏ +64 6 876 5453, toll-free: 0800 825 339, fax: +64 6 876 9497. Spanish, elegance, cooking facilities, spa/air bath, queen size beds, air conditioned, pool, parking, quiet. Has a popular conference centre for business meetings. 
• Fairmont Motor Lodge, 1120 Karamu Rd Nth, ☏ +64 6 8783850, fax: +64 6 878 3814. A modern motel across the road from Valdez and next to a dairy. 
• Cumberland Court Motel, corner of Omahu and Maraekakaho Rds, ☏ +64 6 878 6190, +64 508 70 80 90, cumberlandcourt@callplus.net.nz. A very stylish motel in a bustling part of Hastings. 
• TownLodge, 911 East Heretauga St, ☏ +64 6 8708112, toll-free: 0800177117, town.lodge.motel@xtra.co.nz. Sunny outdoor area with swings, BBQ and outdoor tables. All rooms newly refurbished and painted and with electric blankets. Guest laundry available. 

• Hawthorne House, 1420 Railway Rd South, ☏ +64 6 878 0035, +64 21 142 4210 (mob). Tariff includes home-made afternoon tea on arrival, evening drinks & canapes and luxury accommodation and breakfast. This is a lovely Edwardian villa set in 15 acres overlooking the Hawke's Bay hills. $250+ per double, no minimum stay.