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Travel Guides · New Zealand · Updated 2026 · 9 min read
Hastings sits in the middle of Hawke’s Bay, which turns out to be a useful place to be. The region is small, warm and full of variety. The best day trips from Hastings are all close: a rebuilt Art Deco city, a limestone peak, a gannet coast and long ocean beaches. Most are under an hour away.
This is a driving region, so a car makes all the difference. A few routes out of the bay were badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. Most have reopened. Some can still close at short notice in bad weather, so check conditions before any longer trip.
Pick one by distance and mood. Leave in the morning, and take the slow road home.
Read Next:
A Guide to Hawke’s Bay Wineries
The Best Day Trips from Hastings
The best day trips from Hastings sort neatly by direction. North takes you to Napier and the lakes. East runs to the coast and the gannets. South leads to the heritage towns and beaches of Central Hawke’s Bay. Here is where each one goes.
Napier
Napier is the easiest and best day trip of all, twenty minutes north. The city was flattened by the 1931 earthquake and rebuilt in Art Deco. The result is one of the most complete Art Deco townscapes in the world. Walking its streets is the main event.
Start on the waterfront. Marine Parade runs along the sea, lined with Norfolk pines, gardens and the aquarium. The centre holds the best of the Deco detail. A guided walk brings the stories to life, and the MTG museum is worth an hour too.
Napier and Hastings sit only twenty kilometres apart. That closeness is why so many people treat them as one trip. You can book a Napier Art Deco tour here.
Distance: 20 minutes north · Best for: architecture, the waterfront and museums.
Havelock North and Te Mata Peak
Just fifteen minutes away, Havelock North is the polished village of the district. It has good cafes, a leafy centre and a relaxed pace. Above it rises Te Mata Peak, the limestone ridge that watches over the whole bay.
Drive or walk to the 399-metre summit. The view runs across vineyards, orchards and out to the sea. On a clear day you can see Mount Ruapehu. The peak is sacred to local Māori, so tread it with respect.
Pair the two easily in a day. Coffee in the village, the peak for the view, and a winery on the way back. It is one of the simplest good days in Hawke’s Bay.
Distance: 15 minutes · Best for: the view, the village and an easy walk.
Cape Kidnappers and the Te Awanga Coast
East of the city, the Te Awanga coast holds the district’s most dramatic wildlife. Cape Kidnappers is home to one of the largest mainland gannet colonies anywhere. Up to 25,000 birds nest on the cliffs through the season.
There are two ways to reach them. The beach walk from Clifton is long and tide-dependent, and the cliffs carry a real rockfall risk. A guided tractor or overland tour is the safer choice. Book ahead in summer, and aim for the window between November and February.
The coast around Te Awanga rewards a slower look too. Small cellar doors like Elephant Hill and Te Awanga Estate sit near the water. You can book a Cape Kidnappers gannet tour here.
Distance: 20 minutes east · Season: roughly November to February · Best for: gannets and coastal wineries.
Waimarama and Ocean Beach
When the heat builds, the coast is close. Waimarama is the pick, about thirty minutes southeast of Hastings. It is a long stretch of golden sand with good swimming and a summer patrol. Bare Island sits just offshore.
Ocean Beach nearby is wilder and quieter. Dunes and hills back a wide, open shore. Both are proper surf beaches, so swim between the flags where patrolled. Watch the currents.
Bring a picnic and stay the afternoon. These beaches see far fewer crowds than the big-name coasts. That is much of their charm.
Distance: 30 minutes southeast · Best for: swimming, surf and a beach day.
Central Hawke’s Bay
South of Hastings, Central Hawke’s Bay is the quiet heart of the region. The old towns of Waipawa and Waipukurau sit about forty minutes down State Highway 2. Both carry heritage streetscapes, antique shops and good country cafes.
This is farming country, slow and unhurried. Beyond the towns lie remote beaches like Kairakau and the long sweep of Pōrangahau. Ongaonga, a preserved colonial village, is worth the short detour. Few tourists come this way.
Distance: 40 minutes south · Best for: heritage towns, country drives and empty beaches.
Lake Taupō
For a bigger day, Lake Taupō lies about two hours northwest on State Highway 5. It is the largest lake in the country, ringed by mountains and geothermal ground. It makes a full day, but a rewarding one.
One thing matters here. State Highway 5 was hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle and can still close at short notice in bad weather. Check the NZTA Journey Planner before you set out. In good conditions the drive is straightforward and scenic.
At the lake you can swim, walk to Huka Falls, or soak in a hot spring. Two hours each way makes it a long day, so leave early.
Distance: 2 hours northwest, conditions permitting · Best for: the lake, waterfalls and hot springs.
Norsewood and Dannevirke
An hour south, the small towns of Norsewood and Dannevirke carry an unusual history. Both were settled by Scandinavian migrants in the 1870s. The heritage still shows in the names, the museums and the old woollen mill at Norsewood.
It is a gentle, offbeat day out. Dannevirke leans into its Danish roots, right down to the Viking figures at the town entrance. This is not a headline trip. It is a quiet one, for people who like the back roads.
Distance: 1 hour south · Best for: heritage, small towns and a slow drive.
Gisborne
The furthest reach on this list, Gisborne sits about three hours north on State Highway 2. It is honestly better as an overnight than a single day. Still, it is a fine destination, with surf beaches, wineries and the first light of each New Zealand day.
The road there runs through Wairoa and remote hill country. Like the other long routes out of the bay, it can close in heavy weather, so check conditions first. If you have a spare night, take it rather than rushing there and back.
Distance: 3 hours north · Best for: surf, wine and East Coast character. Consider staying the night.
The Northern Lakes and Coast
North of Napier, a quieter loop takes in lakes, forest and coast. Lake Tūtira is a peaceful spot for a walk and a picnic. Nearby Boundary Stream is a restored forest reserve, alive with native birdsong. Waipatiki Beach sits tucked into its own small bay.
This corner felt the cyclone hard, and recovery continues in places. Check access for anything rural before you drive out. On a settled day it is a gentle, green escape from the city.
Distance: 30 to 45 minutes north · Best for: lakes, birdlife and a quiet beach.
Tips for Day Trips from Hastings
Check the roads before the longer trips. The region is still recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle, and some routes close at short notice in heavy rain. This is most true of the highways to Taupō and Gisborne. A quick look at the NZTA Journey Planner saves a wasted drive.
Take a car. Hawke’s Bay is spread out, and public transport is limited beyond the two cities. Almost everything on this list needs your own wheels.
Do not drink and drive the wine country. The cellar doors are a short drive apart, so nominate a driver, hire bikes, or join a tour. If your day involves cycling or the gannet walk, it is worth being covered. World Nomads includes those activities in its travel insurance.
Pack for sun. Hawke’s Bay is warm, dry and bright, and the summer UV is strong. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water, and a decent pair of walking shoes for the peak and the beaches.
Time it with the season. Late summer and autumn are the best months here. The fruit and grapes are in, and the weather is at its most settled.
How to Get Around
A car is the only practical way to see these day trips. Hire cars are easy to arrange at Hawke’s Bay Airport, just north of the two cities. The main routes are well signposted and mostly gentle driving.
Base yourself in Hastings or Napier, as both sit central to everything. The two are only twenty kilometres apart, so it barely matters which you choose. Most of this list is a short drive from either.
For the longer trips to Taupō or Gisborne, an overnight turns a rushed day into an easy one. You can compare places to stay across the region here and plan around the drive.
Keep Exploring –
The North Island of New Zealand: A Complete Route
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best day trip from Hastings?
Napier is the standout, just twenty minutes north with its famous Art Deco streets and seafront. For nature over architecture, the gannets at Cape Kidnappers and the view from Te Mata Peak are the picks. All three are close, and any of them fills an easy day.
How far is Napier from Hastings?
Napier is about twenty kilometres from Hastings, or twenty minutes by car. The two cities sit close enough that many visitors treat them as a single base. You can easily see both in a day.
Can you do Lake Taupō as a day trip from Hastings?
Yes, though it is a long one at about two hours each way on State Highway 5. That road was badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and can still close at short notice in bad weather. Check the NZTA Journey Planner before you go, and leave early to make the most of the day.
Do you need a car for day trips from Hastings?
For nearly all of them, yes. Public transport in Hawke’s Bay is limited beyond the two cities, and the best spots are spread across the plains and the coast. Hiring a car at the airport is the simplest option.
Are the roads around Hastings open after Cyclone Gabrielle?
Most are, including the main highways to Napier, Taupō and Gisborne. Recovery is still ongoing in places, though, and some routes close at short notice in heavy rain. Always check current conditions before a longer or more rural trip.
Final Thoughts
Hastings makes a good base precisely because so little is far. You can stand on a peak, watch gannets and walk an empty beach in the same few days. The best day trips from Hastings are short on distance and long on variety.
Pick a direction, check the road, and leave early. The bay is small enough to know well in a week. Take your time with it.
Slow down to the pace of the place. It gives more that way.
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