Things to do in Hawkes Bay

1. Tractor Tours to Cape Kidnappers

Hawkes Bay is home to many beautiful sights, including stunning beaches, friendly wildlife, exquisite cliffs, and vast gannet colonies - all of which can be explored with this Tractor Tour!

Come on a unique, fun eco-experience tour, in a beautiful and iconic part of the Hawke’s Bay region. This ‘one of a kind’ tour provides a 4-hour adventure, traveling along the majestically rugged coastline from Clifton to Cape Kidnappers, on vintage tractors. The Cape is not only home to four gannet colonies, which bustle with the daily rituals of these amazing seabirds, but is also one of the most geologically fascinating parts of our country.

2. Private City Tour with wine tasting

If you’re new to Hawke's Bay, what better way to explore the city than a private tour? This private tour is for up to 6 people and allows you to ride in style in a Mercedes-Benz that includes a cruise around Napier's world-famous Art Deco City, followed by a drive out of town to a top-rated local winery for a wine sampling.

3. Bluff Hill Lookout

Peer down on a busy port and overlook the shipman's lifestyle. Once the site of an artillery battery, this historic lookout provides sweeping views of the ocean and the port. Visitors to the Bluff Hill/Motupohue region can enjoy stunning views of Foveaux Strait and the Southland Plains, as well as a well-established track network, mountain biking track, parking lot, and explanation panels. There's such a variety of different tracks to explore, it could take all day!

4. Shine Falls

Shine Falls is a hidden gem that is well worth the effort to visit. Shine Falls is a towering 58-meter-high waterfall in native forest with abundant birdlife & many luscious trails to spend the evening exploring. Bring your family, friends and your camera here to have a calm, memorable time.

5. Otatara Pa

On a clear day, a 45-minute walk across the reserve provides some amazing examples of old pa sites, as well as breathtaking views of Napier, the coast, and all the way inland to Mt Ruapehu.

The Otatara Pa is an exceptionally interesting destination to see, with many Maori sculptures and the remains of Hawke's Bay's once most desired pa site.

6. MTG Hawke’s Bay

You may spend an hour or so soaking in the culture at the facility, which also has various art galleries and a vast theatre. Hawke's Bay region's official museum is a fantastic venue to learn about the region's European and Maori history.

7. Te Mata Peak

Te Mata Peak, behind Havelock North, gives 360° views of Hawke's Bay. Visitors can also see Napier and the Mahia Peninsula to the north and east. It's a bit of a drive, but well worth it!

Te Mata Peak rises 399m and offers a sealed road that leads to the popular lookout at the summit, as well as several trails for hikers and mountain bikers.

8. Gannets at Cape Kidnappers

If the Tractor Tour is not for you, you can still see the Gannets via a small hike.

The spectacular gannets are found at the end of Cape Kidnappers. Early October through late April is the ideal period to see the gannets. The walk takes 5-6 hours round trip and is only possible during low tide. While seeing the world's largest mainland gannet colony is incredible, a journey to Cape Kidnappers is about much more than the birds. Walking along the coastline to Cape Kidnappers exposes gigantic geological giants in the form of steep cliffs packed with fossils, fault lines, and gullies. Between 300,000 and 4.5 million years ago, they were all produced!

9. Hawke’s Bay Cycle Trails

With the variety of cycle trails in the Hawke's Bay region, you've struck gold! See areas of the Hastings district that you wouldn't see if you drove, whether it's to hop from winery to winery or to see some of the area's most beautiful landscapes. See more of the cycle trails around New Zealand to compare!

10. Birdwatch at the Peka Peka Wetlands

The Peka Peka Wetlands are part of an old peat swamp and provide critical habitat for a variety of native bird and plant species. They are thought to be one of New Zealand's oldest wetlands, having originated approximately 9600 BC. Explore the wetlands using the network of boardwalks and trails, keeping an eye out for unique wildlife. Information panels also provide a wealth of information about the area's Maori history.