Waka Experience, Napier Contents Welcome to Hawke’s Bay 1 Our Seasons 2 Getting Here 4 A Short History for Hawke's Bay 5 Our Māori Heritage 5 Napier 6 Ahuriri, Westshore & Esk Valley 8 Hastings 9 Havelock North 10 Haumoana & Te Awanga 11 Northern Hawke’s Bay 12 Central Hawke’s Bay 14 Architecture 16 Art & Culture 17 Food & Wine 18 Family Fun 19 Cycling 20 Walking 21 Beaches 22 Golf & Fishing 23 Weddings & Conferences 24 Where to Sleep 25 What to See & Do 28 Where to Eat & Drink 37 Cover image by: Brian Culy Events 2017 41 Photography kindly supplied by Richard Brimer, Eva Bradley, Brian Culy, John Miles, Kirsten Simcox & Tim Whittaker. Hawke’s Bay Regional Map Back As products/offers may change without notice please refer to operators directly for up to date information on compliance with all Health and Safety and regulatory requirements. Welcome to Hawke’s Bay ‘Te Matau a Maui’ Hawke’s Bay is a region of diverse and magnificent landscapes, from mountains and hill country to inland and coastal plains, occupying around 14000 square kilometres on the eastern side of New Zealand’s North Island. Sharks Tooth, Cape Kidnappers From Māhia in the north to Porangahau in the south, In Māori mythology, the formation of Hawke’s Bay’s Hawke’s Bay’s 360 kilometres of coastline and beaches geography is found in the story of Maui, the most famous hugs the vast Pacific Ocean. of the Māori gods, who hauled up the North Island while out fishing one day with his brothers. Annoyed by the Blessed with fertile soils, an ideal contour, and a warm favouritism shown to Maui by the other gods, the brothers temperate climate, Hawke’s Bay’s prosperity is founded tried to sabotage his fishing efforts by refusing him a on its land-based economy. With its thousands of acres fishhook or some bait. of farms, orchards, and vineyards, along with the local industries that have grown up in support, there is good But the resourceful Maui produced his own hook, made reason why the region is held in such high regard as New from the jawbone of his grandmother, he punched himself Zealand’s agricultural powerhouse, and why life here in the nose, coated his hook with the blood that flowed, beats to a seasonal drum. and cast it into the depths where it was soon taken by something very large. The forces of nature that gifted Hawke’s Bay with its most notable landmarks, including Lake Waikaremoana, Te Mata After heaving the North Island to the surface, Maui’s Peak, and Cape Kidnappers, have also wreaked havoc on hook was instantly transformed into the cape that forms the local population to reshape and define the region we the southernmost tip of Hawke Bay – otherwise known as know today. Most infamous is the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake Cape Kidnappers. Viewed from above, you can still see of 1931, an event that changed the cityscapes of Napier and its hooked shape, which is why Hawke’s Bay is sometimes Hastings and the lives of their inhabitants forever. referred to as ‘Te Matau a Maui’ – The Fishhook of Maui. hawkesbaynz.com 1 Summer is holiday time. Longs have given way to shorts, and the locals are in Our Seasons full outdoor swing. With longer days and warmer temperatures come fresh offerings – think outdoor concerts, twilight cricket, and new potatoes. There’s the Christmas Summer and New Year influx of course, with a well- spaced succession of long weekends to follow. It’s the start of the wedding season, when every day is a big day it seems, and the shores are asplash with swimmers and surfers. The early pre-starts of outboards sing a new dawn chorus in the settlements along the coast, as boaties prepare for another day on the ocean. Cruise ships begin their daily visits and Art Deco enthusiasts from around the world are all in a frenzy about their February pilgrimage to Napier for the annual Art Deco Festival. View to Cape Kidnappers from Marine Parade Autumn Autumn is a photographer’s dream. The last apple has been picked, the grapes are all but off the vines, and the landscape is a blaze as deciduous leaves turn gold, red, yellow and brown. With the sinking of the sun, the harder light of summer transforms into the golden syrupy light of autumn, illuminating the hills and filtering down through the trees to create long shadows and a magnificent three-dimensional spectacle. There’s no better way to witness the magic than an early morning or late afternoon hike along the tree-lined trails Te Mata Peak lookout, Havelock North leading to the summit of Te Mata Peak. 2 hawke’s bay visitor guide 2017 Spring is made for walking. Temperatures are on the rise, tracks are drying out, and the visible signs Spring of nature waking up are on show everywhere with bursts of blossoms, flushes of daffodils, and fresh green grass. Squadrons of male gannets have ensconced themselves in their headland sanctuaries at Cape Kidnappers, feathering their nests in anticipation of the arrival of their mates. Asparagus shoots have completed their first push through the soils, early strawberries are making their colourful appearance on the shelves, and lawnmowers are firing up for another busy season. Taniwha Daffodils, Central Hawke’s Bay Winter Winter is the season for hunkering down, but Hawke’s Bay is not dormant by any means. Early season there is a crisp stillness in the air, with blue skies and shortening sunny days. With the first dustings of snow on the ranges, life outside simply carries on indoors – wood supplies are brought in, fires are lit, hearty meals prepared. There are deals to be had at luxury lodges and boutique hotels for an intimate escape or a weekend rendezvous, and in June there is F.A.W.C.! – the winter session of the now famous Food and Wine Classic. With a local spin on winter fare and a flurry of new vintage releases, food lovers and wine drinkers have plenty of reasons to be happy. In winter, families begin their Saturday trudge around the sports parks and stadiums, and the roar from McLean Park tells us Poplars 7, Black Barn Lodge the Magpies are at it again. hawkesbaynz.com 3 Getting Here Roads to Hawke’s Bay By Air From the north, there are two main routes into Napier. The Hawke’s Bay Airport is 10 minutes from Napier’s city centre Thermal Explorer Highway takes you down the centre of the and 25 minutes from Hastings. Air New Zealand operates daily North Island and through the historic geothermal areas of flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Waitomo, Rotorua, and Lake Taupo. Jetstar offers daily flights between Auckland and Napier. Or you can take the road less travelled along the Pacific Coast Sounds Air operates 5 flights a week between Napier and Highway through Coromandel, Tauranga and Whakatane, Blenheim. around East Cape and down through Gisborne and Wairoa. This is one of the great campervan journeys and highly The airport is well serviced by rental car companies, shuttles recommended for anyone wanting to experience some of New buses and taxis. Visit www.hawkesbay-airport.co.nz to find out Zealand’s most beautiful and remote coastal parts. more. To find out more about these two northern routes, visit Finding your way www.explorecentralnorthislandnz.com Pick up a map from one of the i-SITE Visitor Information If you’re driving to Hawke’s Bay from Wellington either take Centres in Wairoa, Napier, Hastings, Havelock North or SH1 up the Kapiti Coast and head inland at Levin, or head out Waipukurau. Hawke’s Bay also has a variety of camping through the Hutt Valley, over the Rimutaka Hill and through grounds and designated areas for freedom camping – these are the Wairarapa district. This latter route is part of the Classic all mapped out at www.camping.org.nz New Zealand Wine Trail that runs through the region’s famous winegrowing pockets and provides plenty of opportunities to Drive Times stop and explore the cafes, antique shops, and galleries. If travelling by car, here’s a guide to how long you can Hawke’s Bay is on the national coach route with daily services expect to be at the wheel. from Auckland, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Taupo and Wellington. For more information, visit www.intercity.co.nz Auckland – Napier Auckland or www.nakedbus.com 5.5 hours Rotorua – Napier By Sea Rotorua 2.5 hours Gisborne The Port of Napier hosts the arrival of multiple cruise ships Taupo – Napier Taupo throughout the summer season. Tens of thousands of cruise Napier visitors are shuttled to and from the Napier i-SITE Visitor 1.5 hours Hawke’s Bay Centre and there are a number of tour companies who pick Gisborne – Napier visitors up from the port itself. For more information and a 3 hours cruise ship schedule, visit www.napierport.co.nz Wellington – Napier Wellington 4 hours 4 hawke’s bay visitor guide 2017 A Short History for Hawke’s Bay Our Māori Heritage Hastings Ngāti Kahungunu is the Iwi or tribe of Hawke’s Bay, having settled in the region sometime during the 16th Century. The Iwi gained territory through necessary migration from the Poverty Bay area into Wairoa, Ahuriri, Heretaunga and eventually Hawke’s Bay’s first inhabitants were Māori, who extending borders as far South as Cape Palliser in the Wairarapa. arrived here somewhere between 1250 and 1300 The name comes from Kahungunu, the eponymous ancestor from and established coastal settlements from Māhia whom the tribe claim descent.