Hastings

Where is it?

Hastings is situated just inland on the East Coast in the Hawkes Bay region. It is one of the most fertile areas of the whole country and is a major fruit-growing region. The whole region, including Hastings and its near neighbour Napier, were flattened by the earthquake of 1931.

What’s it like?

The rebuilding done following the earthquake was in 1930’s art deco style that at first seems at odds with the agricultural flavour of the town. There are still some excellent examples of art deco and Spanish mission style housing to be seen. Just take a stroll. The fruit pickers that invade the town at harvest time enforce the general agrarian atmosphere of a large village

What to see and what to do.

If you go to Hastings with small people (children that is, not Pygmy’s) you will go to Splash Planet (‘will you take us to Splash Planet?’ ‘No!’, ‘will you take us to Splash Planet?’ ‘No!’ ‘will you take us…?’ You all know what I’m saying). It’s a great big water park and in the height of summer what could be better.
As testimony to the links with the land there is the spring Blossom Festival (September/October), there is music, arts and crafts and parades.
There are wine tours aplenty and walking on the 400m high Te Mata peak.
The reason many come to Hastings is due to its proximity to the Cape Kidnappers Gannet colony, the world’s largest gathering of these spectacular diving birds. Twitchers should aim to arrive from late October to early March. The colony can be reached by foot but a number of companies run seaborne tours.

Eating, drinking and sleeping.

Availability of accommodation is linked directly to the seasons. Hostels fill up in fruit picking season and family accommodation at high summer so book first. There is not a great deal of choice of places to eat. Those who like a drink are much better served.