Splash Planet
Grove road, ph 06 873 8033. splash planet is a water theme park that will offer 'a whole day's fun'. it is set in a park-like setting and has many non-aquatic activities for those who don't like swimming.
Karamu High School
It can be found by travelling on Karamu Road until you reach a set of traffic lights with a car dealer on the corner. Turn to go down the side with the car dealer on it, or follow the small brown signs posted on lamp posts. Following Grove Road (toward Karamu High School and you can't miss it on the right.
Splash Planet's 'logo' is a planet-like ball with a 'water' comet whizzing around it on the BROWN signs scattered throughout Hastings on the lamp-posts. Follow where those signs point. Splash Planet is well worth the effort for your kids. If you get lost, you should pull over and any friendly local will point the way for you! Hastings folk LOVE tourists; they add fun and diversity to our lovely city.
other
Te Mata peak offers out-door activities. Cycling is an option with many cycle paths and a the 30 minute walk to the massive redwoods is well worth it
The A&P show at the Hawkes Bay show grounds on October 18
Pernel Fruit World offers tractor rides around their orchard and educates tourists about how fruit is grown around Hastings. Pernel Fruit World: 1412 Pakowhai Rd Hastings. Ph 06 878 3383
There are hot pools in the Kaweka Ranges somewhere in the vicinty of Sherenden, partway between Hastings and Taihepe. Ask at the Information centre Corner of Heretaunga and Russel streets for directions
wineries/vineyards
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 the Hawkes 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 Road, Havelock North, ph 06873 0143. Ultra fancy winery. Very nice setting in the TukiTuki valley between the Tukituki Tiver and Te Mata Peak.
Ngatarawa Wines, 305 Ngatarawa Road, RD5 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 Road, 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 Road, RD1, Hastings, ph +64 6 879 8768. Has an restaurant, shop, cellar tours and can host conferences and functions
Vidal Estate Winery, 913 St Aubyn Street East, +64 6 876 8105. This winery is historic, one of the first to be established in Hawkes 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.
tours
Odyssey New Zealand, 219 Kenilworth Rd, ph 0508 ODYSSEY
Long Island Tours, 20 Reynolds Road, Havelock North, ph +64 6 877 0977. Offers different types of tours for every taste, or type.
Beaches and rivers
Tukituki River
The Tukituki River is generally considered a safe place to take the kids swimming. The favourite spot is âUndercliffâ near Havelock North. It is within a 25min cycle from Hastings city centre
Haumoana
Beach has a lovely little seaside settlement. it is generally regarded as an unsafe place to swim, thnaks to dangerous undertows from the many rivers that pour into the bay.
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 âbare islandâ because there is virtually no vegetation on it. it has a new zealand fur seal colony on the side not visible from the beach.
Ocean Beach
Is hawkes bay's premier beach. during the summer months november â february it has hundreds of beach goers. 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 will need to bring your own food.
Te Awanga
Is another lovely beach settlement - but again, no swimming.
Clifton
Is 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 cafã© that serves rush munroeâs ice cream and other cafã© 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.
Hawkes Bay's natural abundance is recognized by the regional council's logo: each âfingerâ represents one of the 5 main rivers. It also has several golden sand beaches. These 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.
Kairakau Beach
Has a small settlement. it is very difficult to find and is a long way out from the nearest settlement, elsthorpe.
Ocean Beach will remian unspoiled for the foreseeable future. A recent plan to develop it with a large holiday resort was stopped thanks to local resistance. We want to keep our beach as it is.