Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights & Activities
As with Napier, Hastings was similarly devastated by the 1931 earthquake and also boasts
some fine art-deco and Spanish Mission buildings, built in the aftermath. Main-street
& Heretaunga St E, Hastings)
, arguably the Bay's best example of the Spanish Mission style,
although there are myriad architectural gems here. The i-SITE stocks the
Art Deco Hast-
ings
brochure ($1), detailing two self-guided walks.
Te Mata Peak
PARK
OFFLINE MAP
(
www.tematapark.co.nz
)
Rising melodramatically from the Heretaunga Plains 16km south of
Havelock North, Te Mata Peak (399m) is part of the 98-hectare
Te Mata Trust Park
. The
summit road passes sheep trails, rickety fences and vertigo-inducing stone escarpments,
cowled in a bleak, lunar-meets-Scottish-Highland atmosphere. From the
lookout
on a
clear day, views fall away to Hawke Bay, Mahia Peninsula and distant Mt Ruapehu.
The park's trails offer walks from 30 minutes to two hours: pick up the
Te Mata Trust
Park
brochure from local i-SITEs.
Hastings City Art Gallery
GALLERY
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(HCAG; ;
www.hastingscityartgallery.co.nz
;
201 Eastbourne St E, Hastings; 10am-4.30pm)
The city's gallery presents contemporary NZ and international art in a bright, purpose-
built space. Expect some wacky stuff (much wackier than Hastings itself…).
Hastings Farmers Market
FARMERS MARKET
(
www.hawkesbayfarmersmarket.co.nz
;
Showgrounds, Kenilworth Rd; 8.30am-12.30pm Sun)
If
you're around on Sunday, the Hastings market is mandatory. Bring an empty stomach,
some cash and a roomy shopping bag.
Splash Planet
SWIMMING
( 06-873 8033;
www.splashplanet.co.nz
; Grove Rd, Hastings; adult/child $26/18;
10am-5.30pm Nov-Feb)
A massive, watery wonderland with myriad pools, slides and aquatic
distractions.
